Ralph Carey Geer
Encyclopedia
Ralph Carey Geer was an American farmer and politician in what became the state of Oregon
. A native of Connecticut
, he lived in Ohio
and Illinois
before taking the Oregon Trail
west to Oregon where he started a nursery and later raised livestock and grew flax. At times a Republican and later a Democrat, he served in the Oregon House of Representatives
and as the clerk for the county. He was related to both Homer Davenport
and T. T. Geer.
, on March 13, 1816, to Joseph Carey Geer, Sr. and Mary Johnson Geer. The family moved to Madison County, Ohio
, when he was still a boy. On January 8, 1837, he married Mary Catherine Willard there, and they had five children. Geer and his wife moved west to Farmington
in Knox County, Illinois
, after they were married and lived there for ten years. In 1847, Geer and his family immigrated to the Oregon Country
over the Oregon Trail
.
Geer settled east of Salem
in the Waldo Hills
and began building a nursery using seedlings he carried with him over the Oregon Trail. His nursery started with pears and apples. In 1848, during the Cayuse War
against Native Americans in retaliation for the Whitman Massacre
, Geer served as captain of a company of men protecting the Willamette Valley
. In March, he led those troops into battle at the Battle of Abiqua Creek. Also that year he worked as a teacher. Geer imported English sheep to Oregon in 1858 and later became an early farmer of flax in the Willamette Valley.
to represent Marion County. He served during the 1854 to 1855 session in the lower House of Representatives. In July 1868, he was elected to the office of county clerk for Marion County. Geer served in that office for a single term, leaving in June 1870. Originally a Republican, he later switched party affiliations to the Democratic Party.
. He was also the grandfather of political cartoonist Homer Davenport
. Ralph Carey Geer died in the Waldo Hills on January 9, 1895, at the age of 79 and was buried at Mt. Hope Pioneer Cemetery east of Salem in the Waldo Hills. Geer's house, still located on his original Donation Land Claim
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as the R. C. Geer Farmhouse.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, he lived in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
before taking the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
west to Oregon where he started a nursery and later raised livestock and grew flax. At times a Republican and later a Democrat, he served in the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
and as the clerk for the county. He was related to both Homer Davenport
Homer Davenport
Homer Calvin Davenport was a political cartoonist from the United States. He was known for his satirical drawings and support of Progressive Era politics. A native Oregonian, he worked for several West Coast newspapers before being hired by William Randolph Hearst and the New York Evening Journal...
and T. T. Geer.
Early life
Ralph Geer was born in Windham County, ConnecticutWindham County, Connecticut
Windham County is a county located in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of 2010, the population was 118,428.The entire county is within the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor, as designated by the National Park Service.-History:Windham...
, on March 13, 1816, to Joseph Carey Geer, Sr. and Mary Johnson Geer. The family moved to Madison County, Ohio
Madison County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 40,213 people, 13,672 households, and 10,035 families residing in the county. The population density was 86 people per square mile . There were 14,399 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile...
, when he was still a boy. On January 8, 1837, he married Mary Catherine Willard there, and they had five children. Geer and his wife moved west to Farmington
Farmington, Illinois
Farmington is a city in the northeast corner of Fulton County, Illinois, United States. It is north of Canton and Lewistown, west of Peoria and Bloomington, and east of Galesburg and Macomb. The population was 2,601 at the 2000 census. The public school system is Farmington Central Community Unit...
in Knox County, Illinois
Knox County, Illinois
Knox County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 52,919, which is a decrease of 5.2% from 55,836 in 2000...
, after they were married and lived there for ten years. In 1847, Geer and his family immigrated to the Oregon Country
Oregon Country
The Oregon Country was a predominantly American term referring to a disputed ownership region of the Pacific Northwest of North America. The region was occupied by British and French Canadian fur traders from before 1810, and American settlers from the mid-1830s, with its coastal areas north from...
over the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
.
Geer settled east of Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
in the Waldo Hills
Waldo Hills (Oregon)
The Waldo Hills are a range of hills in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, United States. Encompassing an area of around , the hills are located east of Salem. The hills are named after pioneer Daniel Waldo.-Geology:...
and began building a nursery using seedlings he carried with him over the Oregon Trail. His nursery started with pears and apples. In 1848, during the Cayuse War
Cayuse War
The Cayuse War was an armed conflict that took place in the Northwestern United States from 1847 to 1855 between the Cayuse people of the region and the United States Government and local Euro-American settlers...
against Native Americans in retaliation for the Whitman Massacre
Whitman massacre
The Whitman massacre was the murder in the Oregon Country on November 29, 1847 of U.S. missionaries Dr. Marcus Whitman and his wife Narcissa Whitman, along with eleven others. They were killed by Cayuse and Umatilla Indians. The incident began the Cayuse War...
, Geer served as captain of a company of men protecting the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
. In March, he led those troops into battle at the Battle of Abiqua Creek. Also that year he worked as a teacher. Geer imported English sheep to Oregon in 1858 and later became an early farmer of flax in the Willamette Valley.
Political career
In 1854, he was elected to the Oregon Territorial LegislatureOregon Territorial Legislature
Oregon’s Territorial Legislature was a bicameral legislative body created by the United States Congress in 1848 as the legislative branch of the government of the Oregon Territory...
to represent Marion County. He served during the 1854 to 1855 session in the lower House of Representatives. In July 1868, he was elected to the office of county clerk for Marion County. Geer served in that office for a single term, leaving in June 1870. Originally a Republican, he later switched party affiliations to the Democratic Party.
Later years and family
Ralph Geer was the uncle of Oregon Governor Theodore Thurston GeerTheodore Thurston Geer
Theodore Thurston Geer was the tenth Governor of Oregon, serving from January 9, 1899 to January 14, 1903. The Republican politician was in office when the legislature adopted the "Oregon System", Oregon's system of initiative and referendum...
. He was also the grandfather of political cartoonist Homer Davenport
Homer Davenport
Homer Calvin Davenport was a political cartoonist from the United States. He was known for his satirical drawings and support of Progressive Era politics. A native Oregonian, he worked for several West Coast newspapers before being hired by William Randolph Hearst and the New York Evening Journal...
. Ralph Carey Geer died in the Waldo Hills on January 9, 1895, at the age of 79 and was buried at Mt. Hope Pioneer Cemetery east of Salem in the Waldo Hills. Geer's house, still located on his original Donation Land Claim
Donation Land Claim Act
The Donation Land Claim Act of 1850 was a statute enacted by the United States Congress intended to promote homestead settlement in the Oregon Territory in the Pacific Northwest...
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as the R. C. Geer Farmhouse.