Westmoreland County PA Archives Obituaries.....Geary, John W. February 8, 1873
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Jeffersonian Republican. (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911: February 13, 1873)
Geary, John W. - Ex-Governor of Pennsylvania
He was born Dec. 30, 1819, (near Mount Pleasant) in Westmoreland County, Penn., and
after spending some years in commercial pursuits, he became a civil engineer and
surveyed railroad lines in Kentucky. On the outbreak of the Mexican War, he promptly
responded to the call for volunteers, and organized a company, which he named the
American Highlanders, afterward incorporated in the 2d Pennsylvania Regiment, of
which Geary was made Lieutenant Colonel. He joined, with this regiment, the army of
Gen. Scott at Vera Cruz, and served with marked distinction in the advance upon and
capture of the Mexican capital. President Polk recognized his services by appointing
him Postmaster of San Francisco and Mail Agent for the Pacific coast. Col. Geary
arrived in California in April, 1849 and during the three years which he spent in
the young State, he held successively several important judicial and municipal
offices, including the Mayoralty of San Francisco. He took an active part in
establishing order and promoting the prosperity of the Golden State, displaying
considerable executive ability. After spending three years at farming in his native
county, he was appointed, in 1856,  Governor of the Territory of Kansas, then
disturbed by the free soil and pro slavery conflicts. He held this position about
six months, when he tendered his resignation to President Buchanan, who had just
come into power. Gov. Geary returned to his Pennsylvania farm and was residing there
when the war for the Union began. He promptly tendered his service, and received the
commission of Colonel of the 28th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, which he had
organized within a month. Henceforth he was one of the most active and prominent
soldiers of the war. He was in command in several minor engagements in the
Shenandoah Valley in the fall of 1861. In April, 1862, he received the commission of
Brigadier, and, with his brigade, the second of the First Division of Gen. Banks
Corps, served in the Cedar Mountain campaign. He was severely wounded at the battle
of Cedar Mountain, and was disabled for active service until December, when he was
again in the field, and captured Winchester from the Confederates. In 1863 he was
promoted to a Major Generalship and placed in command of the Second Division of the
Twelfth Army Corps. In this capacity he served in the great battles of
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, and in 1864 was ordered to
Tennessee to join Gen. Sherman. Assuming command of the Second Division of the
Twentieth Corps, he joined in the "march to the sea," participating prominently in
several of the principal engagements. 
Addressing his troops, in 1864, at Savannah, of which he had been appointed Military
Governor, he enumerated their battles as follows : Rich Mountain, Carrick's Ford,
Winchester, Port Republic, Bolivar, Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run, Antietam,
Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wauhatchie, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge,
Ringgold, Mill Creek, Gap, Resaca, New Hope Church, Pine Hill, Muddy Creek, Nove's
Creek, Kolb's Farm, Kenesaw, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta and
Savannah. Following the fortunes Sherman, he served in the Carolina campaigns, and
witnessed the surrender of Johnson, his military career terminating only with the
close of the war.
In March, l866, the Republican State Convention of Pennsylvania nominated him for
Governor, and after an animated contest with Heister Clymer, the Democratic nominee,
he was elected by a majority of 17,178. He was re-elected three years later by a
reduced majority over Asa Packer, and retired from his official duties as recently
as the 20th ult., when Gen. Hartranft came into office. Gov. Geary's popularity had
waned very much during his second term, although he still numbered many ardent
adherents. (He was buried in Harrisburg with state honors in Mount Kalma Cemetery.)

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