GREAY, John
JOHN W. GEARY. GOVERNOR UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF 1838. January 15, 1867, to January 21, 1873. JOHN WHITE GEARY, the youngest of four sons, was born near Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, on the 30th of December, 1819. The family was originally Scotch-Irish, but for several generations his ancestors had enjoyed the privileges and honors of American birth. Richard Geary, his father, a native of Franklin County, received a liberal education, and was a man of refined tastes, amiable disposition, and superior moral excellence. His mother, Margaret White, was born in Washington County, Maryland, and was in all respects worthy to be the companion and help meet of her husband. They removed to Western Pennsylvania soon after their marriage, where Mr. Geary's attention being directed to the mineral wealth of that section, he was induced to engage in the manufacture of iron. This business, which has always been attended with serious risks, was much more precarious then than now; and, like many of the iron manufacturers of that period, he was unsuccessful, lost the whole of his original investment, and after resigning everything into the hands of his creditors, was left under pecuniary liabilities, which he was unable to discharge. In this trying situation he fell back upon the resources of his early education, and opened a select school in Westmoreland County. The remainder of his life was there devoted to a profession at all times honorable, and imposing the gravest responsibilities, but seldom lucrative; and from his previous failure in business, he died insolvent, leaving his family entirely dependent upon their own exertions for support. Submitted by: Sharon Lantzy Wygant SSchu22739@aol.com back to top of page back to Franklin Co. Biographies ********************************************************************************