|
Geer, LeGrande Byington
|
|
| LAST: Geer
|
FIRST: LeGrande
|
MID: Byington
|
|
| GENDER: M
|
MAIDEN NAME:
|
TITLE:
|
|
| BORN: 11 May 1845
|
DIED: 6 May 1909
|
BURIED: 9 May 1909
|
|
|
OCCUPATION: Stock Raiser
|
|
| BIRTH PLACE: Illinois
|
|
| DEATH PLACE: Marion Co., Oregon
|
|
NOTES:
OSBH DC (Marion County 1909) #1441 - L.B. Geer, male, married, occupation farmer, b. 11 March 1845 in Illinois, d. 7 May 1909, name of father R C Geer, maiden name of Mother, Marry Willard, interment Warren cemetery, 9 May 1909, undertaker W. T. Rigdon, informant CC Geer.
1880 WA CENSUS - L. Byington Geer, age 35, occupation raising fine stock, b. Illinois, is enumerated with wife Tina, age 28, b. Illinois, along with Carrie B., age 9, b. Oregon, Musa C., age 7, b. Oregon, Myrtle T., age 2, b. WashingtonTerritory, and Bertie B., age 5 months, b. Washington Territory.
NOTE - Photo of L. B. Geer, age 35, courtesy of Vesper Geer Rose.
DISCREPANCY - DC gives month of birth as March, marker as May.
|
|
OBITUARY:
Prominent Man Passes Away – L.B. Geer, former state land agent, pioneer and one of the leading thoroughbred stock raisers in the state passed away at 10 o’clock Thursday night at his home from the effects of paralysis.
Mr. Geer was 65 years of age and was a native of Illinois, coming to Oregon with his parents in 1847, and settling on the place where he died, although living for a time at Corvallis and in Union County. He served for four years as state land agent during the administration of his cousin, T.T., Geer, as governor, a position he filled creditably.
He is survived by his wife and six children as follows: Mrs. D.H. Crouter, of Union; Miss Musa Geer of New York City; Mrs. Dr. Dabney of Portland; Bert Geer of Elk City; E.C. and A.A. Geer of Macleay.
The death of Mr. Geer or 'Bi' will be deeply mourned throughout the state as his sunny disposition and kind heart won for him many friends.
The funeral will be held tomorrow (Sunday) at 11 a.m., from the home near Macleay, and interment will be made in the Warren Cemetery. The services will be conducted by the Rev. P.S. Knight, (who will omit his regular service at Willard on this occasion) assisted by the I.O.O.F. lodge of which he was a member. He was a charter member of Chemeketa No. 1, and of Silver No. 1, of Silverton.
Daily Oregon Statesman 11 May 1909 8:6-7.
Many Pay Honor to Old Pioneer – Great Funeral Cortege Escorts Remains of L.B. Geer to Last Resting Place – One of the largest funeral corteges ever assembled in the vicinity of Salem followed the remains of the late L.B. Geer to the Warren cemetery in the Waldo Hills Sunday. Regardless of threatening weather a line of carriages extending a mile in length and carrying hundreds of Odd Fellows and pioneers were in the procession.
Mr. Geer was one of the most widely known pioneers of the Northwest. He came across the plains in 1847. His father, R.C. Geer, served as captain in the early Indian Wars of Oregon; was identified with some of the earliest undertakings in Oregon’s struggle for statehood, and was an important breeder of fine stock and as an ardent agriculturist and horticulturist probably did as much if not more than any other individual toward laying the foundation upon which the present state fair has become such a popular institution.
L.B. Geer carried out the work started by the old pioneer when he perfected the finest strain of Merino sheep ever produced, by importations and 20 years of systematic breeding. Later, Mr. Geer picked and bred herds of the finest shorthorn and Hereford cattle, some of which were shipped to the Hawaiian island for use by the federal government, and these fine specimens the government officials reported the best ever seen in the islands.
Of late years the firm of Geer & Son has been conspicuous on the premium lists at all the important fairs in the state and the late Mr. Geer took pride in the hundred or more cups and trophies carried off from worthy competitors. Mr. Geer was a patron of the Oregon Historical Society. Through his official position as state land agent he was involved in the recent land fraud investigations, but was exonerated. Besides a host of friends and acquaintances he leaves a widow and six sons and daughters.
Daily Oregon Statesman 11 May 1909 8:6-7
Prominent Man Dead – L.B. Geer, Former State Land Agent, Buried at Warren Cemetery. – L.B. Geer, one of the widest known men of this vicinity and former land agent of Oregon, died at his home on Waldo Hills, near this city, late Thursday evening of last week.
Mr. Geer was 64 years of age and a native of Illinois, coming to Oregon with his parents in 1847, and locating on the farm where he died. Mr. Geer has lived here almost constantly since his settlement in Oregon.
September 5, 1868, Silver Lodge, No. 21, was instituted with the following charter members: R.C. Geer, M. Fitzjerell, L.B. Geer, D. Wolfard, W.R. Durban, and Ed Tall. All the charter members are now dead; Mr. Geer being the last one called home.
Silvertonian Appeal 14 May 1909 1:2.
|
|
INSCRIPTION:
L. B. Geer
Born
May 11, 1845
Died
May 6, 1909
[north face of monument shared with E. D.]
West face of Monument:
Gone But Still
Remembered
|
|
SOURCES:
Hellie, Mader & Rickey
Saucy
OSBH DC (Marion County 1909) #1441
1880 WA CENSUS (Walla Walla Co., ED 49, pg 226B)
DOS 8 May 1909 8:1-2
DOS 11 May 1909 8:6-7
SA 14 May 1909 1:2
|
|
| SECTION: A
|
LOT:
|
|
|
IMAGES:
|
|
