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Geer, Gear, Gere, Geere & other spellings

Welcome to the Geer Reunions Page

(We ask for your patience as this webpage is being rebuilt.)




The 2023 Triennial GFA Reunion Johnstown, PA



The first GFA reunion since the covid-19 pandemic was organized by Audrey Geer Masalehdan (ID #599-1-5-1-1-2] and took place Friday July 14 to Sunday July 16, 2023 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

We were very pleased to be up and running again!

The reunion was held at the Downtown Johnstown Holiday Inn where all meals & events were scheduled. The food was good, the entertainment engaging, & the presentations were lively!

   

        Lynn Geer Pryor, Ginger August, Audrey Geer Masalehdan, Ken Geer       Larry Geer     Hersh-Geer

   

                              Ginger August                 Rosemary Rainbolt Vergin                 Richard and Dorothy Geer


We had a great time meeting new relatives, hearing the presentations, watching Geer silent movies, & visiting the many historical sites of interest in Johnstown: the Johnstown Flood Museum, the Inclined Plane, the Flood National Memorial, The Path of the Flood Trail, the Flight 93 Memorial, & the Heritage Discovery Center's America Through Immigrant Eyes.

The great grandson of #1 George Geer, Roger Geer [ID #88], Revolutionary War Patriot, led many Geer family members to the Johnstown area in the first years of the 1800s. They first settled in Blacklick, a small settlement around Indiana County, but are now spread across Western Pennsylvania from Johnstown to Pittsburgh to Erie to McKean. Roger Geer [#88] is buried in the Old Liberty Street Cemetery in Blairsville about 30 minutes from Johnstown.

Of special interest to the Reunion attendees was Johnstown's Grandview Cemetery, which has two Geer plots near each other dating back to our Civil War veteran ancestor, James Henderson Geer [ID #599-1], who was Roger Geer's great grandson. After surviving the Johnstown Flood, James H. Geer designed & constructed the Inclined Plane to facilitate evacuation from flooded low-lying areas. He also was a renowned smelting inventor, Superintendent of Construction for Cambria Iron Company, and later Bethlehem Steel. These photographs of headstones are from Grandview Cemetery.

       
        James Henderson Geer [ID #599-1]

James Henderson Geer's son, Dr. Frank Densmore Geer, Sr. [ID #599-1-5, 1876-1938, Johnstown] attended the University of Pittsburgh & graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Dental School in 1899. His son, Dr. Frank Densmore Geer, Jr. [ID #599-1-5-1 1902-1955 Johnstown] joined his father's Johnstown dental practice.

                 
      Dr. Frank Densmore Geer Sr. [#599-1-5]                           FDG Sr. Headstone                 Dr. Frank Densmore Geer Jr. [#599-1-5-1]

Frank Densmore Geer Jr. had three sons. The first, Dr. Frank Densmore Geer III, MD psychiatrist (ID #599-1-5-1-1 b. 1923 Johnstown, d. 1999 New Castle), was a member of the Geer Family Association since its rejuvenation in June 1976 & generously donated funds to cover GFA's operating costs. The second son, Roger Friesell Geer (ID #599-1-5-1-2, b. 1927 Johnstown, d. 2012 NM) is the Geer family member responsible for GFA's 1976 resurrection & served as GFA President for many years. The third son, James Henderson Geer (#599-1-5-1-3 b. 1932 Johnston, d. 2015 Lancaster), graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1954, served as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force, rising to the rank of first lieutenant. After earning a Ph.D. in psychology, he held faculty positions at SUNY-Buffalo, Penn, SUNY-Stony Brook, LSU, & published 72 scholarly articles, 5 books & 15 book chapters. His ashes were scattered at Grandview Cemetery.


Dr. James Henderson Geer (#599-1-5-1-3)           Dr. Frank Densmore Geer III (#599-1-5-1-1)         Roger Friesell Geer (#599-1-5-1-2)



At the 2023 Johnstown Reunion, tables lining the walls displayed historical documents, creative genealogies, photographs & many other items of interest.


2023 Johnstown Reunion Presentations

  • Ginger August: Ginger, who trained as a nurse, told us about her Geer ancestors who were medical doctors. Ginger served as the GFA Historian since its inception and retired last summer. She spoke about her work & thanked all those who helped her along the way. As the historian, Ginger answered genealogical questions & selected letters & photos to be published in the GFA newsletter. Ginger wrote many (maybe most!) of the newsletter articles. GFA as it exists today would not exist without Ginger.
  • Audrey Geer Masalehdan: Audrey read a letter written by her GGGGrandfather James Geer (ID #246) written in 1843 to his daughter Myraetta, telling her about the death of her brother, James Geer Jr. The details in the letter give personal insight into this large and loving family and clear up some genealogical questions that have lingered over the years.
  • Bob & Robb Geer-Hersh: Bob & Robb brought us GOOPY GEER, a singing, dancing, piano-playing animated cartoon dog created in 1932 for the Merrie Melodies series of cartoons from Warner Brothers. You can find Goopy on YouTube. Bob & Robb also brought Geer family films from the 1930s through the early 1950's for our viewing pleasure.
  • George Geer: George told is about Corporal Thomas Geer of the 111th NY Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the Civil War, which was heavily involved in the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863.
  • Larry Geer: Larry told us about John Geer (332) who in 1803 purchased a farm in what is now Griswold CT. This farm stayed in the family until 1946. Larry provided photographs of The Geer Homestead on Geer Road.
  • Richard Geer: Richard sang his original ballad, Brothers about his Geer family and accompanied himself on the guitar.
  • Lynn Geer Pryor: Lynn told us about Minnesota Hunters and Trappers in the Geer Family, featuring George Franklyn Geer (9th gen from George, GFA ID 668-5-1-3-7) and Michael Paul Geer (10th gen from George, GFA ID 668-5-1-3-3-2), her uncle and brother.
  • Beth Snyder Parley Geer's children and grandchildren: They told us about Mary Filer Geer and Geer men and women of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Colorado.
  • Rosemary Rainbolt Vergin: Rosemary told us about her 2nd Great Grandfather Noah Webster Geer (New York born teenage Civil War veteran, son of Erastus M. Geer, husband to Eunice Barton, father of Lena & Grace Geer) who died at age 31 on September 4, 1877, as the result of a lumber planing mill accident in Grand Valley, Warren County, Pennsylvania.




The 2016 Triennial GFA Reunion Salem, Oregon July 29-31

The 2016 GFA general meeting, held at GeerCrest Farm near Salem, Oregon on the weekend of July 29, 30 & 31, was hosted by Erika Ursula & GFA Trustee for Region 6, Jim Toler. The Officers' Meeting began at the Grand Hotel as a dinner event in Salem and completed at The Aurora Colony Museum in Silverton, Oregon. At GeerCrest on Sunday July 31 reports were presented and elections were held at the Business Meeting led by Ken Geer.

The Oregon General Meeting program was exceptional, and the GeerCrest Reunion Committee was commended for organizing outstanding educational and historical activities. Participants learned there are several places in Marion County Oregon named for the Geer family, who settled in the Waldo Hills and on Howell Prairie. The Geer Branch off the Southern Pacific railroad's main Willamette Valley line once ran from the Salem station to Geer station on the prairie. The Waldo Hills home of Ralph Carey Geer, an uncle of Oregon Governor Theodore T. Geer, and a member of the Oregon Territorial Legislature, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the R.C. Geer Farmhouse. For 155 years, Geer ancestors have lived on the same farm pioneered by R.C. Geer, who in 1847 was among the first to travel to the Willamette Valley via the Barlow Road portion of the Oregon Trail. The farm, known today as GeerCrest (formerly Vesper Geer Rose Ranch), is now run as a teaching farm. The farm is also known as the childhood home of Silverton political cartoonist Homer Davenport, whose mother, Florinda, was a member of the Geer family. Geer Community Park in Salem is also named for the Geer family and is located near a former section of the Geer Branch.

   

                      Oregon Governor Theodore Thurston Geer                                     T.T. Geer Plaque

Theodore Thurston Geer born March 12, 1851 in Waldo Hills east of Salem, Oregon, was the son of Heman Johnson Geer and Cynthia Ann Eoff. He served in the Oregon House of Representatives, including time as its Speaker, and was the tenth Governor of Oregon, the first native-born Oregonian to hold that position. He served from January 9, 1899, to January 14, 1903, and died February 21, 1924. Geer was known for being an enthusiastic participant in the 1890s bicycle craze and signed the 1899 Cycle Path legislation passed by the State Legislature to create a statewide network of bicycle paths. As governor T.T. Geer regularly bicycled from his home in Macleay to the Capitol. T.T. Geer married Nancy Batte Duncan. They had three children.
                                                Photographs of the 2016 Oregon Reunion can be viewed here.





The 2013 Triennial GFA Reunion Ledyard, Connecticut July 21-23

The 2013 GFA general meeting, held in Ledyard, Connecticut on the weekend of June 21, 22 and 23, 2013 was hosted by Ken Geer, the GFA Registered Agent. The business meeting was held at the Congregational Church in Ledyard, as it has been in the past. President Gene Geer presided. Officers for the next three years were elected, presentations included talks on local history and the stonecutting profession in Connecticut. The always popular Show and Tell displays by Geer/Gere/Gear participants were appreciated by all. As was this special Geer cake!

Driving tours of the area took participants to the one-room Geer Hill Schoolhouse, to Geer cemeteries (including the grave of immigrant George Geer), to old Geer homes in area. Geer spring water tasting was enjoyed by all.

Photographs of the 2013 Reunion can be viewed here.





The 2010 Triennial GFA Reunion Scarborough, Maine June 24 - 27

The 2010 General Meeting and Reunion of the Geer Family Association was held on Friday through Sunday, June 25 to 27, with an officers' meeting on Thursday evening, June 24.

   

                        President Gene Geer chairs the meeting.     Attendees enjoyed the scenery in the area.




Plenty of good food at the reunion!


For more photos of the Scarborough reunion, please Click here.



The 2007 Triennial GFA Reunion Ledyard, Connecticut June 22-24

Meeting and Reunion of the Geer Family Association was held June 22-24, 2007 at the Congregational Church in Ledyard, CT.
          A business meeting was held, tours of Geer homes and cemeteries were taken, and many new cousins became acquainted with each other. Here are some highlights:

Business Meeting   Speaker in Fellowship Hall

        The business meeting and programs were held in the Congregational Church in Ledyard.

Geer Homestead   Cemetery Tour

        Geer homes were open for tours, like this Geer Homestead. George Geer is buried in this little cemetery.

        The Officers and Trustees met to propose a slate of new officers. Sam Geer gave a talk about the Geer DNA Project.
        Click here to see more photos of the Ledyard Reunion.


A "Great Cousins Gathering" was held in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on February 14, 2009.



      The families of Frances Pearl Cockcroft Geer and Vasco R. Geer, Jr. (GFA Trustee from 1989 to 1992), met at the Jackson-George County Regional Public Library, courtesy of their Genealogy Department and Renee Gautier Hague, Genealogy Librarian and family friend.

Geer Cousins  

Left photo: Gary Byrd, George Kellas, Sue Ellen Byrd Moore, Janie Batty, Judi Geer Kellas, Jon "Tiger" Geer, Laura Byrd Cooley, and L.J. (Jon) Geer.
Right photo: Len Byrd Murray, Janie Batty, Renee Gautier Hague, Laura Byrd Cooley, and Sue Ellen Byrd Moore.

     When Frances Pearl Cockcroft Geer died in November 2006, she was the last of her family of 12 children. The following February family members were invited to attend the "inurnment" of her ashes next to her husband, Vasco R. Geer, Jr., in the Machpelah Cemetery in Pascagoula, MS. After the graveside ceremony, about 30 nieces, nephews and close friends went to a local restaurant to celebrates her nearly 100 years of life. At the gathering one of the cousins said to Judi Geer Kellas, "Why do we wait for someone to die to get together?" That gave Judi and her cousin, Janie Batty, the idea that they should have a reunion of cousins.

     In attendance at the February gathering were Gary Schley Byrd - son of Pearl's sister Esther; Gary's daughters Laura Byrd Cooley, Len Byrd Murray, and Sue Ellen Byrd Moore; Janie Batty - daughter of Gary's sister, Nelwyn Byrd Taylor; Judi Geer Kellas - daughter of Pearl & Vasco Geer, Jr.; George Kellas - Judi's husband; Judy Geer Ewing - Judi's cousin ; Tom Ewing - Judy's husband; Jon "Tiger" Geer - Judi's cousin; L.J. (Jon) Geer - Tiger's son; Renee Gautier Hague - family friend; Douglas Hague - Renee's husband; and Carolyn Chambliss Sharbrough Bonetti, daughter of Gary's sister Lynda Byrd Sharbrough, attended via Internet connection from Viareggio, Italy.

     To everyone's delight, Geer attendees came from far and wide. Judi Geer Kellas had thought that most people would be from her mother's family, many of whom live in or near Pascagoula. Tiger Geer and his son, L. J., came from California, and Tom and Judy Geer Ewing came from Maine! What a wonderful event!


A reunion of the descendants of James Henderson Geer and Anna M. Fought Geer was held in Johnstown PA in July 2008.

The Whole Gang

      Above: Five generations of descendants of James Henderson Geer and Anna M. Fought Geer at the dining room at the top of the Inclined Plane on Saturday, July 19. James Geer was the superintendent of construction on the project to build the Inclined Plane for evacuating Johnstown residents in the event of another major flood. The group included family members who traveled from Colorado, Florida, Maine, Tennessee, New York, Ohio, and other states. The cousins toured the Johnstown area and several cemeteries where ancestors are buried. Pictured below are James and Anna.