BIOGRAPHY: Philip J. GEUS, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lynne Canterbury and Diann Olsen. Portions of this book were transcribed by Clark Creery, Martha Humenik, Betty Mirovich and Sharon Ringler. USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ ____________________________________________________________ From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 480-1 ____________________________________________________________ PHILIP J. GEUS, proprietor of the Hastings meat market, and one of the founders of the mercantile business of that prosperous town, is a son of Andrew and Walburga (Karl) Geus, and was born at Carrolltown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, May 27, 1862. He was reared in his native town, and received his education in the common schools and St. Vincent's College, of Latrobe, Westmoreland county, where he took the classical course. After leaving that excellent and well-known institution of higher learning, he taught for two winters, and employed the intervening summers in painting. At the close of that time, in 1882, he received a very favorable offer, and became a clerk in a general mercantile house in, Braddock, this State, in which he remained until 1883, when he accepted a similar position in Carrolltown. Three years later he became connected with the mercantile firm of John Schroth, of Wilmore, where he remained until 1888, and during one year and a half of that time served as assistant postmaster. In 1888, in partnership with others, he opened a general mercantile establishment and large lumber yards at Hastings. They soon built up a good business, and added shingles and railroad ties as specialties to their lumber business. Seventeen months later Mr. Geus disposed of his interest to his partners, and, after a short rest spent on the farm with his brother, he, in partnership with another, engaged in the butchering business. They established the Hastings meat market, April, 1890, and a Patton market some time later; and at the end of three years Mr. Geus found this line of business both healthful and profitable, and purchased his partner's interest at Hastings, while they sold the Patton branch. Making some changes in the meat market and slaughter yards, he has continued the business most successfully up to the present time. He is a working proprietor, and in the management looks as closely to every detail as to planning the general work of his business, which is increasing with every year. Mr. Geus is frank in the expression of his sentiments, although not obtruding his opinions on any one. He is a member of the Catholic church, upon whose services he is a regular attendant. He has always been identified with the Republican party, and gives it a wholehearted support in every campaign and upon every issue. On September 2, 1894, Mr. Geus was united in marriage with Hannah Campbell, a daughter of John Campbell, of Shenandoah, Schuylkill county. Their union has been blessed with one child, a daughter, whom they named Annie Maria. Philip J. Geus is of German descent, and his father, Andrew Geus, was born near the celebrated city of Worms, in Germany, and learned the trades of a cooper and brewer. Mr. and Mrs. Geus had six children, all sons: William, who learned the trade of brewer with his father, and is now engaged in brewing, in St. Louis, Missouri; John, died in early manhood; Frank, now deceased; Andrew, a butcher by trade, but now engaged in farming in Susquehanna township; George I., a butcher and baker by trade, and now resident at Gallitzin; and Philip J., whose name appears at the head of this sketch.