By all measures, John White Geary was an impressive man. Standing six feet six inches tall, Geary accumulated quite a commendable record of public service in his short life.
Born in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, he began his college education at age 14 but was forced to quit due to his father's death and debts. As a teenager he worked in a variety of jobs and joined the state militia. He later earned his degree, and worked as a railroad construction engineer as well as surveyor. He participated in the Mexican War where he was wounded five times which earned him rank of Colonel as well as national fame.
Like many Americans of his time, he moved west. Appointed Postmaster of San Francisco in 1849 by President James K. Polk, he was then elected the final alcalde, and then first Mayor in 1850. To this date, he was the youngest Mayor in San Francisco's history. His first wife's poor health and untimely death compelled him to return East in 1852.
In his early years he was a Democrat, later evolving into an independent Republican. This change began in 1856 when President Franklin Pierce appointed him Territorial Governor of Kansas, which in the pre-Civil War slavery disputes became known as 'Bleeding Kansas'. Hoping to bring harmony to Kansas, he toured the fledgling Territory, met with the citizens, and gave speeches appealing for unity and understanding. In these hopes, he failed. After less than a year, fearing for his own life, he left Kansas armed with two guns in the night.
Geary returned to his farm in Pennsylvania and remarried. With the Civil War, he rejoined the military and rose to the Brevet Rank of Major General. He fought at Chancellorsville, in the Shenandoah Valley, at Lookout Mountain, and with Sherman's 'March Through Georgia'. He was also at Gettysburg, and lost a son at Chattanooga.
Due to his war record, he was elected Governor of Pennsylvania and served from 1867 to 1873, where he earned a reputation of independence and attacking political influence. He died tragically young at the age of 53.
Along with Geary Boulevard and Street in 'The City' (San Francisco, California), the citizens of Geary County in Kansas voted to rename their county in his name, over that of Jefferson Davis. A street in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's State Capital is named for him. A monument, attesting his bravery, was erected at Gettysburg in 1914, but only dedicated officially in recent years.
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