Sarah Geer McIntyre: The Courage to Carry On, Part 5

Continued from Part 4 . . .

As Sarah's son Martie McIntyre was entering his mid-teens, World War I began raging in Europe. When the United States joined the war in 1917, Sarah’s family felt the effects. Against his mother’s wishes and desiring to follow in Gould’s footsteps, Martie enlisted in the Navy on August 2, 1918. His military records describe him as 5’9” tall, 153 pounds, with brown eyes, black hair, and ruddy complexion.1 Prior to this time when men enlisted in the Navy, they served four years, but as an incentive to get recruits for the war effort, they were allowed to enlist for the duration of the war. This was Martie’s choice. When Germany signed an armistice with the Allies on November 11, 1918, the war officially ended, but Martie served several more months. By special order of the Secretary of the Navy, he was honorably discharged on April 17, 1919.2

 

Seven months after Martie returned from the Navy, Sarah made room for a daughter-in-law in the home. On November 15, 1919, Martie married Fannie Mae Myers (1902-1925), daughter of Jacob A. Myers, a magistrate and teacher in Smyth County, and his wife Oma Allen Deal Myers, a teacher and drama coach. Fannie’s dimpled smile and gentle ways added cheer to the McIntyre home. Within a year (August 10, 1920), Fannie gave birth to Sarah’s first grandson, Woodrow Wilson McIntyre, and twenty-three months later (July 16, 1922) to a granddaughter, Norma Lois McIntyre. By this time in her life, Sarah must have learned not to take good times for granted. A year or so after the birth of her second child, Fannie was diagnosed with “consumption,” a term used at that time for tuberculosis, and sent to Catawba, a tuberculosis sanitarium near Roanoke, Virginia.

 

Fannie’s treatments failed to cure her of the disease. After she returned home, she began to keep a diary. Her first entry was dated Dec. 27, 1924, and the last entry was penned in May 1925. Within the pages of this slim volume, she recorded her hopes and dreams and the events of her life. She often mentioned her mother-in-law, mostly in terms of illness or work: “Mrs. McIntyre is sick today,” or “Mrs. McIntyre is ironing.” Fannie also noted friends and family members who visited her, among them two women evangelists, Mayo Moses and Mabrey Evans. Fannie wrote glowingly of her affection for them.

February [1925], Sunday—1

Mayo has been here I love Mayo.  I know she is a good girl.  This old world we’re living in is very hard to beat.  We get a rose with every thorn, But aren’t the roses sweet. . . .

 

Monday—16

Mayo has been here.  She brought Miss Evans. They are such nice girlies and are doing a good work. . . .

 

Tuesday—24

It is cloudy to day.  I don’t feel good at all.  The meeting is still in progress, and will be this week.  Mayo has not been here since Sat.  I wish she’d come.3

 

When Fannie died on September 7, 1925, five days before her twenty-third birthday, Martie and Mayo stood on opposite sides of her bed holding her hands.

           

Once again, motherless children were left in Sarah’s care, but this time at age sixty-five she was suffering from poor health. Unlike John Chapman, who seldom visited Gladys and Lorene, Martie took responsibility for his children. Life went on in the McIntyre household. Martie bought property farther up the hillside in Allison Gap and began construction on a new house. Later, Allie built a barn on the property and continued to keep a large garden.

 

Though she was just a young teenager, Lorene carried much of the responsibility for the care of Lois and Woodrow. Gladys had moved to Hopewell where her Uncle Gould lived and found a job. Though Sarah’s health began to fail, she kept in touch with her “adopted” children, Gould and Gladys. A few letters to Gladys remain. These letters illustrate Sarah’s devotion to these young people whose lives were entrusted to her care as children. That she often signs her letters “Mother” illustrates the way she regarded them. Though she did not record the year, indications are that these letters were probably written in 1926, about two years before Sarah died.

Saltville Va

January 23

 

dear daughter

it is with great Pleasure to night that i will try and drop you a few lines to let you

Know that i have not forgotten you  gladis they all well here but me and i dont get no better nor never will. . . .  hope those few lines will find you all right

Lorene is at home she is lots of help to us  thire is a 20 days singing school agoing on here now Lorene is going all the time  we don’t want her to miss none of it for it is good  well gladis thire is lots of Sickness and deaths here  thire was Some one buried nearly every day last week Mr Charley Surber and his brother died at McCrady Gap  Mrs lineberry Anie Haynes4 mother and anie die is dead

. . . .

So be good and take good care of your Self for thire is so many girls kidnapped i am uneasy about you so be carful  this from your Mother to her daughther

So good night  Sarah McIntyre

________

 

April the 5, [1926]5

dear gladis

ithought i would try and drop you a few lines  i would have rote sooner but have not been able . . . . the children got thir baskets was well Please  gladis if i could get out of the house i would have sent you a Ester Preasant but just as soon as i can get out i will send you something nice

Well gladis we had a surprise Party Come in on us last Friday night at Eleven oclock  i know you cant guess so i will tell you  your aunt dealy and and uncle billy and Ribern Arnell and Earnest and his wife6  they Stayed all night and went on the first train  they come to See your aunt Em7 and then come to See me  i Sure was glad to see them all  when you come home Marti Said that he would take us all down there

Well Lorene has not missed a day in school. . . . Gould has got a big boy8  they call him junior  i forgot to tell you that Dell and Hugh and francis was here last Saturday9 they come and we was not looking for them  well the old Gap is just the same only worse  there is moore meanness than ever was Know before  i Sure was glad that you got out  i am a going to try and get Loren out just as soon as we can  This is no fitten place for a deacent girl to Stay  i am so sorry that Marti come back  if i could get out to night i sure would go10  i am well Pleased with you that you are holding yourself up. . . .  well I will close now will rite more next time  don’t fail to rite to me  i will rite just as often as i can 

this from Mother

so good by my little girl  be a good girl 

_______

 

August the 5

dear daughter

After a long delay I thought i would drop you just a few lines to let you Know

how we all are all well as comen but me  i have not been able to do nothing sience you was here  well i Seen fransias batten11  She Said to tell you to come back just as soon as you can for She Shur did enjoy you company while you was up at her home  you Said that you was coming home in September hop you will come  well Mrs. Myers and Charles and fred12 is all down with tyfoied fevor. . . .

Allie said for you to go and send her them samples of t woolen dress goods and she will Pick her out one and Send the mony . . . for it so dont fail to do that  the children13 has gon to bed  Marti is down at times has just come in from the store so I so I don’t know of any thing more to rite at Preasant  will give you all the news next time

Hope to hear from you soon gladis  don’t fail to rite to me often for Part of the time I can rite to you  and you must not fail to rit often  so I will close

for to night so be good

and take good care of your Self

So good night my little daughter

this from Mother

rite soon

________

Oct 25 [1927]

Dear daughter

ithought i would drop you a few lines this morning as aunt Marry Collins is

waiting on me to take it to the Post office  i would have rote sooner but have not been able to go half my time gladis what has become of Lorene  don’t hear from her  Gladis Hizzie14 was awful Proud of her dress  it Sure is nice goods  well Virgie Tallor15 run of the other day and got married  India Haynes16 is Married  they both married men from Marion  I don’t know know their names  well I have not time to rite mutch  will give you all the news next time  when do you think you are coming . . .  I sure do want to see you

So I will close for this time  this leaves all well as comen  hope this will find you the Same

                                                            So good by for this time

                                                            be a good little girl

                                                            this from Mama

to her daughter

rite soon

________

 

The next year, Sarah learned, inadvertently, that on August 24, 1927, Martie had secretly married Mayo Moses (1898-1988), the lady preacher and Fannie’s friend. They slipped off from a Church of God camp meeting at Christiansburg and were married at Appomattox. As a featured evangelist at the camp meeting, Mayo was afraid her marriage would divert attention from the purpose of the camp meeting—to win souls for Christ—hence the secret ceremony. The couple planned to hand out marriage announcements after the last service, but Martie’s mother discovered one of the announcements as she searched Martie’s pockets preparing to launder his clothes. The secret was out.

 

Mayo was a Tennessee girl, the daughter of a tenant farmer, William Moses, and his wife, Martha Oody Moses. At age sixteen, she had been converted during a revival meeting near Loudon, Tennessee, by Church of God evangelist, the Reverend A. G. Riddle. So impressed were the Riddles by Mayo’s zeal for the Lord that they took her into their home at Atkins, Virginia, to tutor her in Bible study and Church of God teachings.17 After her education with the Riddles and a time at Berea College in Kentucky, Mayo began a preaching ministry with another woman evangelist, Mabrey Evans. Mayo and Mabrey held revivals in communities throughout Southwest Virginia, including Atkins, Marion, Christiansburg, and Saltville. Mayo also took interim pastorates at Elliston and Chatham Hill, and for a few years she pastored the new congregation at Allison Gap. Mayo’s strong voice carried across the congregation and out through the windows to the surrounding hillside homes in powerful prayers and sermons, and she ministered in many homes praying for the sick.

 

In contrast to Mayo’s strong voice, Martie was soft spoken and modest. He had learned compassion and generosity from his mother. By this time, he was working in the Matheson company store as a grocery clerk. The Matheson Alkali Works had come to Saltville in 1893, and the company owned much of the town. Martie often helped the poor by giving them goods they needed and charging his own bill.

 

When Mayo joined the McIntyre family, she gained not only a husband, but also two small children (Lois and Woodrow), a teenager (Lorene), a mother-in-law (Sarah), and “Aunt Allie.” She ran an organized and efficient household and continued Sarah’s tradition of housing and feeding guest preachers.

 

Within a year of Martie’s marriage to Mayo, Sarah died on 23 May 1928.18 And so the earthly life of an ordinary woman of Southwest Virginia came to an end. Her life exhibits traits upon which communities thrive. She overcame many tragedies: early loss of both her parents, the stigma of her father’s defection from the Confederate army, early loss of her husband, loss of two stepchildren and a daughter-in-law as young adults, and more. With dignity and with her friend Allie by her side, she used what little resources she had to make a living for herself and for the children entrusted to her care. With her modest resources, she helped establish the Church of God in the area by housing and feeding visiting evangelists. Beyond her own neighborhood, Sarah McIntyre was unknown. However, in her determined and humble way, she represents many women who faced the hardships of life with determination and courage. They taught their children to honor God and country, to continue the work ethic modeled for them, and to be compassionate, contributing citizens. Thus Sarah Geer McIntyre and countless women like her helped to weave the social an economic fabric of their communities for the good.

s

John Martin "Martie" McIntyre, U. S. Navy 1918.

 

Fannie McIntyre, her son Woodrow (r) and bother Charles (l), c. 1921.

 

L. to r. back: Mr. Moore (a cousin of Sarah's), Sarah McIntyre, Charles Myers (Fannie's youngest brother); l to r. front: Woodrow McIntyre, Lois McIntyre, and the little blondie is an unknown granddaughter of Mr. Moore's, c. 1925 or '26.

The lady preacher, Mary Mayo Moses, c. 1925.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to my mother, Lois McIntyre Troutman, for telling me stories and for saving all the letters and photos. Thanks to Harry Haynes at the Museum of the Middle Appalachians for introducing me to The Smithfield Review and for answering my many questions about Saltville, Allison Gap, and the people who lived there long ago. Thanks to Hugh Campbell and others at The Smithfield Review for their comments and suggestions to improve the clarity of this manuscript, which was originally published in that journal in 2007, Vol. 11. (As I adapted the article to this blog, I corrected a few errors I found. Nothing is perfect.) From readers, I welcome any additional information that might shed light on the life of Sarah McIntyre and her family and the people she knew.

---

1 Enlistment papers are in the possession of the author.

2 Discharge papers are in the possession of the author. The family story about Martie’s WWI service is that he was underage when he enlisted, and Sarah was able to get him discharged for that reason. However, on finding Martie’s enlistment papers, I discovered this not to be the case. He was 20 years old when he enlisted. The only possible reason for this story that I can think of is that maybe Martie tired to enlist in the Navy at age 17, and Sarah was able to get him out at that time, but there is no record of such an event.

3 Fannie Myers McIntyre. Unpublished diary. 1925. This book is in the possession of the author.

4 Annie Haynes was the wife of David Haynes and the mother of India Haynes mentioned in Sarah’s Oct. 25^th letter. Annie’s mother had died.

5 The year can be inferred from the reference to the birth of Gould C. McIntyre, Jr., born in 28 Feb 1926.

6 Aunt Dealy was Cordelia McIntyre Arnold, sister to Martin McIntyre (Sarah’s husband); Uncle Billy was William Ector McIntyre, of Abingdon, brother to Martin McIntyre; Ryburn and Earnest Arnold, were sons of Cordelia McIntyre Arnold.

7 Aunt Em refers to Emmaline McIntyre Stanfield, sister to Martin McIntyre.

8 This would be Gould C. McIntyre, Jr., born in 28 Feb 1926.

9 Adelle (Stanfield) Bolton, her husband Hugh and daughter Frances. Adelle was daughter of Martin McIntyre’s sister Emmaline who married James M. Stanfield.

10 Whatever was going on in the “Gap” that caused Sarah’s desire to see the family leave there is not certain. Despite this, the family stayed in Allison Gap home until 1992, when Gerald McIntyre died and the house was sold. Martie believed in the people of Allison Gap; he rejoiced whenever a “Gap boy” made good. He encouraged children to do well in school; he gave to the poor. At his funeral in 1966, his good deeds, stories the family didn’t know, were told repeatedly by people of the Gap, people who had been recipients of Martie McIntyre’s compassion and generosity.

11 This refers to Frances Bateman who was principal of the Allison Gap School at one time.

12 These people are the mother and brothers of Fannie Myers McIntyre, Martie’s deceased wife.

13 “The children” are Martie’s children, Lois and Woodrow.

14 Hizzie is a nickname for Allie Rumbley.

15 Virgie Taylor, daughter of Rush Taylor, married John Mays.

16 At age 17, India Haynes married Lynn Wassum, as noted in the 1930 Census, Smyth, Virginia; Roll: 2461; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 3; Image: 627.0. Ancestry. She was 20 years old at the time the census was taken on April 30, 1930. One can infer, then, that this letter was written in 1927.

17 My mother, Lois McIntyre Troutman, often told me this story, but it is also recorded in the following book: Berny Berquist and Maxine McCall. Posthumorously, Berk (Drexel, NC: C & M Resources, 2000), 77.

18 Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014, citing Sarah A. McIntire, 23 May 1928; Ancestry.

Sarah Geer McIntyre: The Courage to Carry On, Part 4

 

Continued from May 20, 2021. . .

At the time Sarah sent the Christmas box, her cooking at the Palmer Inn was locally famous. She had also opened her home and her table to many traveling Church of God evangelists preaching in the area, including A. G. Long and M. P. Rimmer (part 2, May 13). Like nameless widows in the Old Testament who fed the prophets, Sarah fed these preachers from Allie’s vegetable garden and from hogs they raised. . . . In this humble way, she helped to establish a Church of God congregation in the area.1 By 1909, construction of a church building had begun. The same year, she and Allie purchased a house2 in an area of Allison Gap called The Pines.

 

A letter from Sarah illuminates Allie’s importance to the family. Written in pencil, the letter contains no punctuation, and capitalization is random. The letter is not dated, but one might infer that the year falls between 1911 and 1916 because Sarah states that Martie and Gould, her son and stepson, “are working.” During those years, Martie would have been between 13 and 18, old enough to hold a job. Having served four years in the United States Navy, Gould had returned some time after 1910.3 He left the area around 1916 and moved to Hopewell, Virginia. The visitor “fannie” is most likely Fannie (Rumbley) Allison, Allie’s sister. Lily Conkan and Mrs. Keith are neighbors. Nicknamed “Hize,” Allie was staying at an unknown location at this time.

August the 26

Saltville Va

 

Dear Allie,

i have just received your letter  . . .  glad to hear all is well  We are . . . getting a long all rite  Martie and Gould is working. . . . they both wonder when hize will com home  Martie said last night Mama I have almost forgot how hize looks  he said i want to see her so bad i had to cry  Allie he is the best thing to me on earth  Gould has got all that pine wood cut up and in the wood house and has engaged 6 moose wagon loads  Gould is so good to. . . . he wants me to hire someone to stay until you come back  well Allie the cow is all rite  She give about 2 gallons at a milking  We give the calf half of the milk  The hogs is growing rite a long  fannie  was down here yesterday . . . and stayed all eaving with me for i was so lonesome  for God sakes hurry and come home  well me and lily Conkan is coming over this next Thursday if nothing happens  Cant you meet us at the train  now i will tell you how i got disapointed yesterday  i thought by me not getting word a Saturday you . . . would be here yesterday . . . so i thought i heard a hack coming at 10 oclock  I run to see and when i found that I was mistaken i just took me a good old fashion cry  fannie laugh at me harty but i could tell she was hurt to  Well Allie are you coming before I come over there or not 

 

i got Mrs. Keith to do the work for me to come. . . . i will come on the first train if nothing happens  Martie wants you to have him some ripe pears  Well I will close for this time into soon  it is raining hard  love to all

Sarah McIntyre

 

Sarah’s letter spills over with affection, not just for Martie and Allie, but also for Gould. Obviously, Allie is an important and loved member of the family. The references to the wood-cutting, the cow, the milking, and the hogs also offer a glimpse into the life of the family.

           

On 11 February 1913, Sarah’s father, William E. Geer, died in Wisconsin. Two months later, her stepmother, Julia, wrote these letters in pencil:

Maiden Rock Wis April 22 [1913]

 

Dear daughter  it is Such a lonesome day thought I would write you a few lines  I was So Sorry to hear you were Sick  hope you are better now. . . .  I have been So lame  I feel some better to day  I guess I worked to hard  I cleaned house and I have had . . . big washings  Sickness makes lots of work  my but I do miss him . . . .  it is So lonesome but I Stay alone I don’t feel contented any where else  I am So glad I have my home  I have been to the grave yard twice I was up last Sunday and put flowers on the grave  I feel So much better when I can go and look at his grave. . . .  it does Seem Sometimes as if he will come back but he never will. I See So many things to remind me of him but it has to be and I must make the best of it  God knows what is best for us  I think of it every day he don’t have to live and Suffer  I think he is at rest.

 

I have not got any pension yet. . . .  I wish I could for I need it So bad  I have not got my debts paid yet  wish you would write and tell me when your Birthday is and how old you are  I don’t want you to try to do any thing if you are not able. . . .  wish I lived where I could help you when you are sick. . . .

 

Well I . . . will write more next time  Tell uncle Tom4  I have not forgotten him and Aunt Hannah5 and Martie how I do wish I could See you all  write Soon

Love to all from your

Mother Julia Geer.

 

 

Maiden Rock Wis April 26 [1913]

Dear daughter

Received your letter . . . this morning I appreciated your kindness  when I get my pension I will try to remember you  Tell Martie I wont forget him he is a good boy, I am afraid you rob yourself  you have to work hard  one of those papers you will have to send back  I want you to let me know what it costs and I will pay it  I think what you send me will help me more than anything  I was married to your father in April 25^th 1868 and your father died Feb 11 1913. . . .  Sarah don’t try to send a box  You have to work so hard and you don’t feel well  I want to send a box after a little  I have some things I want to send uncle Tom & want to send the watch to Martie. . . .  Your father said he wanted him to have it and he shall  I am going to close

write soon

love to all

your Mother

Julia Geer

 

Julia’s affection toward a “daughter” she had never met is heartwarming. It seems that Sarah endeared herself to her stepmother through acts of kindness alluded to in Julia’s letter.

           

About that time, Sarah’s stepson Gould wrote this letter to Sarah revealing some difficulties the family was facing:

Bluefield W. Va.

204 Reese St.

April 11^th 1913

 

Dear Mama:--

just a few lines to let you know that I am well. hoping that this will find you all

the Same. well Mama work is very dull out here  . . . but I think that it will get better in a few days. if not I am going to leave this place about pay day which is on the 24^th. I marked up for duty last Monday and have just made one run which didn’t make me but three dollars. . . . if I should take a notion to leave this place I have been thinking of sending my trunk home so don’t be a bit surprised if you see it coming in  by the way Mama I wish that you would look in the vase on the dresser and get the letter that Rush6 gave me to bring to Bluefield and send it to me. if you can’t find it have Rush to write another one. . . . tell Me how is Lizzie and the children getting along. if they . . . need of anything let me know at once. I am going to send you a little Money Pay day and I want you to pay five dollars to uncle Jim7 for rent for if I send it to Lizzie she might keep it and then aunt Emma would think that I was trying to beat them out of the rent  tell me if they have repaired the house yet? now I am going to do all that I can to help Lizzie. but if that dirty tramp comes back and she lives with him I will never help her again. and futhermore they will have to get out from there. for I think that you have been imposed on a little to much. . . . I am going to send you some money for your troubles for you have been awfull good to Me and I am not the kind of a man to forget. tell Hise to give the little cow 8 some sugar. ha. give Mart a wallop for me. with love to all

                                                                        Your loveing Son

                                                                                    Gould McIntyre

 

Gould’s letter exudes his protective feelings for Sarah and for his sister Lizzie. The “dirty tramp” mentioned in the letter was Lizzie’s husband, John Chapman, who apparently had deserted Lizzie at this time.

 

Some time later, John Chapman returned to Lizzie and together they moved to Dante, Virginia, where he likely worked in a coal mine. Whether their move had anything to do with Gould’s threat is unknown. A postcard addressed to “Mrs. John Chapman, Dante, Va.” reveals the tension Sarah felt over Lizzie’s situation: “March 4, 1914 Dear lizzie What is wrong with you that you don’t write Mama is awful worried about you all please write and let us know if Gladas is with you all don’t foget to write at once.”

 

Fifteen months later, another blow to Sarah’s life came when Lizzie died in childbirth on June 13, 1915 at age 25. The child died also. Caring for two small daughters became too much for John Chapman. He soon left them in the care of Sarah McIntyre and Allie Rumbley. Once again, Sarah became the caretaker of motherless children.

 

Home of Sarah McIntyre and Allie Rumbley in the Pines, Allison Gap. L to r. Lizzie, Allie, Aunt Hannah, Martie, and Sarah, about 1903.

 

The early Allison Gap Church of God congregation met in the home of Allie Rumbley and Sarah McIntyre (pictured with Martie at right in front) until a building was erected a the entrance road to Cardwell Town. Later a larger church was built at the crossroads to Lickskillet, "down the Valley and up the Valley." And even later, a new church was built "up the Valley."

L. to r.: Rush Taylor, a friend, and Gould McIntyre, c. 1905.

L. to r.: Sallie Cardwell and Lizzie McIntyre, c. 1905. Sallie was probably a cousin of Lizzie's.

---

1 The Tie That Binds, p. 4.

2 Smyth County Deed Book 35, p. 238.

3 1910 United States Census, Camp Gregg, Pangasinan, Philippines, Military and Naval Forces; Roll: T624_1784; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 40; Image: 20, Ancestry.com. In this census, Gould is listed with a group of men serving in the Pholippines. A story about Gould’s return from the Navy as it was passed down through the family might be of interest here. When Gould came home, he found his young half-brother Martie being spoiled by the two women raising him and being picked on by bullies at school. He decided Martie needed to become a man and learn to defend himself, so he taught him some boxing moves and even gave him brass knuckles. Gould told Martie to take care of those bullies, which Martie promptly did.

4 William Geer’s brother, Thomas Geer.

5 Hannah Moore Allison, sister to Margaret Moore Geer, Sarah’s mother.

6 Possibly, Rush Taylor, a friend and mentor of Gould's.

7 Uncle Jim and Aunt Emma were James Stanfield and his wife Emmaline McIntyre Stanfield, a sister of Martin McIntyre, Sarah’s deceased husband. They lived above Plasterco west of Saltville in Washington County.

8 According to Lois McIntyre Troutman, granddaughter of Sarah McIntyre, the “little cow” is a reference to Lizzie’s baby Lorene, who was a big child.

Sarah Geer McIntyre: The Courage to Carry On, Part 3

Continued from Part 2, published May 13, 2021.

 

Meanwhile, from 1865 until his death in 1913, Sarah’s father, William E. Geer, made a life for himself in Wisconsin. On April 26, 1868, he married Julia Trumbull, the foster daughter of Maiden Rock’s founder and leading citizen, John D. Trumbull, and his wife, Betsy Lyon Trumbull. Julia was 18 years old at the time of her marriage to William, who was 38. They had no children.

 

If William ever considered returning to Virginia, he must have pushed the idea further and further back in his mind as the years passed. Did he receive an occasional letter from his mother with word about Sarah? Was he plagued by feelings of guilt for not returning to see them? Did Sarah feel abandoned by him? Did the pain of his mother’s letter telling him not to come home continue to trouble him? He left no record to answer these questions.

 

Evidence from the Maiden Rock Press indicates that William’s life in this tiny village on a bluff above Lake Pepin was busy and full. For a time, he apparently operated a restaurant and saloon. When he sold his business, the Pierce County (Wisconsin) Herald ran this notice on the March 29, 1877:

Religion, since the decision of the Commission, seems to occupy a permanent place in the thoughts of the sedate people of the “Rock.” Mr. Wm. Geer, who has been keeping a restaurant and saloon in the village, experienced a change of heart and immediately sold out. Ed Eldridge will fill the vacancy.1

 

Some time later, William began delivering mail. His mail runs took him from Maiden Rock to six other towns in the area around Lake Pepin. After William had carried the mail for ten years, he calculated his total miles traveled. He gave these figures to the Maiden Rock Press:

The following is the distance traveled by our mail carrier, Mr. W. E. Geer, in a period of ten years: From Maiden Rock to River Falls, in three years, 9,984 miles; from Red Wing to Reed’s Landing, in three years, 12,480 miles; from Maiden rock to Rock Elm in one year, 1,664 miles; from Maiden Rock to Lake City in three years, 7,488 miles; from Maiden Rock to Frontenac, 730 miles; from Maiden Rock to Ellsworth in three years and three months, 7,006 miles; from Maiden Rock to Hersey in three years and four months, 18,712 miles; making a total of 65,542 miles travel in ten years. 2

 

The Press also reported that William was instrumental in chartering a post of the Grand Army of the Republic. He had found camaraderie with a group of war veterans in Maiden Rock, and together they organized Grand Army of the Republic Post 158. William enjoyed planning Memorial Day programs at the Maiden Rock Cemetery. Eventually, because of his active participation, his loyalty, and his story of sacrifice for the Union, the post was named for him. To this day, it retains the name, “W. E. Geer American Legion Post 158.”

 

Highlights in the lives of the village’s citizens inevitably ended up in the Maiden Rock Press. In December of 1905, a momentous occasion for William received the headline, “An Old Soldier’s Romance”:

W. E. Geer received what was probably as greatly appreciated a Christmas

remembrance as was received by any one in town. It was a box from his daughter, who lives near Saltville, Va., and contained numerous pictures of his daughter and her son, their home and a bird’s-eye of the salt works; also of the village in the “Gap.” In the last picture he can easily locate the homes of his daughter and of his sister; also the old stone spring-house where he drank many a refreshing draught of cool water in his early days.

 

Among other presents was a cake, a portion of which Mr. Geer divided among his

friends. Ye editor received a liberal portion, and we can testify that it was fine. The reception of the box brought up a flood of remembrances of former days.

 

Mr. Geer has not seen his daughter since he left her, a motherless child, 1½ years

old, in the care of his mother, when he was compelled to leave home in 1862, because of his strong northern ideas. He was first taken as a conscript, in the year above mentioned, and was compelled to join Co. G, 48^th Virginia regiment. But, on July 3, 1863, at the battle of Gettysburg, he and his brother Tom, escaped and made their way to the Union lines. The brothers became separated that day and have never met since.

 

Mr. Geer fell in with a company of Union soldiers, and later enlisted in Co. G, 1^st

Connecticut cavalry, as a teamster. Later he was promoted to wagon master—a position

he held till the close of the war.

 

When Grant took command, Co. G (made up largely of southern men) was ordered to Ft. Snelling to fill a vacancy. After being mustered out of the service, Mr. Geer received word from his mother that it would be unsafe for him to return to the home of his boyhood; so he remained in the north. After spending a few years around St. Paul, Prescott, and other places, he came to Maiden Rock, where he has since made his home. He has often thought of visiting the old home, but his health will not permit the journey.

 

Thus, at this season of good cheer, was he remembered by the daughter he has not seen for 43 years; and to say that he was pleased is but a mild expression of what he felt when he opened his Christmas box.3

 

This “Christmas box” initiated a correspondence between Sarah and her stepmother, Julia Geer, a correspondence that lasted until Sarah’s death in 1928. In her letters, Julia addressed Sarah as “Dear Daughter” embracing her as the daughter she never had, and Julia even specified in her will that Sarah should receive all her earthly belongings.4 Unfortunately, Julia never revised her will after Sarah’s death. Therefore, none of Julia’s estate, worth about $400.00, could be passed on to Sarah’s son Martie because he was not related to Julia by blood. Instead, Julia’s estate reverted to the state of Wisconsin.5

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1 According to Lelynn Trumbull, a nephew of Julia Geer, “The ‘decision of the Commission’ . . . probably was a pre-Prohibition restriction of the sale of alcohol.” Lelynn Trumbull. Personal note attached to newspaper article sent to Lois Troutman, 8 Feb. 1991.

2 Maiden Rock Press. N. dat. N. pag.

3 “An Old Soldier’s Romance,” Maiden Rock Press, February 1905, n. pag. After searching Civil War records, I have found that parts of this story are not true: (1) Wm. E. Geer volunteered in 1861; he was not taken as a conscript in 1862, although he was forced to return to service after he left without leave in 1862. (2) William and his brother did not “[escape and make] their way to Union lines” during the Battle of Gettysburg. Records show that William was actually captured on July 5, 1863, during a dramatic retreat from Gettysburg and imprisoned at Fort Delaware. He signed the oath of allegiance on Oct. 1, 1863, and joined the Union army then. Thomas continued his Confederate service until the end of the war, in spite of being captured on May 12, 1864, at Spotsylvania and imprisoned at Point Lookout, Md., and Elmira, N. Y. (Chapla, p. 124).

4 A copy of the will is in the possession of the author. The original is in a Will Book at the Pierce County Court House, Ellsworth, Wis.

5 A copy of the Petition for Probate of Will for Julia E. Geer and a copy of The Final Account and Petition for Assignment of Estate is in the possession of the author. The originals are in the Pierce County Court House, Ellsworth, Wis.

 

More to come . . .

 

William E. Geer in front of his home in Maiden Rock, WI, c 1910.

Julia and William E. Geer, c. 1880.

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1 According to Lelynn Trumbull, a nephew of Julia Geer, “The ‘decision of the Commission’ . . . probably was a pre-Prohibition restriction of the sale of alcohol.” Lelynn Trumbull. Personal note attached to newspaper article sent to Lois Troutman, 8 Feb. 1991.

2 Maiden Rock Press. N. dat. N. pag.

3 “An Old Soldier’s Romance,” Maiden Rock Press, February 1905, n. pag. Records show that parts of this story are not true: (1) Wm. E. Geer volunteered in 1861; he was not taken as a conscript in 1862; however, he was forced to return to service after he went AWOL in 1862. (2) William and his brother did not “[escape and make] their way to Union lines” during the Battle of Gettysburg. Records show that William was actually captured on July 5, 1863, during a dramatic retreat from Gettysburg and imprisoned at Fort Delaware. He signed the oath of allegiance on Oct. 1, 1863, and joined the Union army then. Thomas continued his Confederate service until the end of the war, in spite of being captured on May 12, 1864, at Spotsylvania and imprisoned at Point Lookout, Md., and Elmira, N. Y. Source: John D. Chapla, 48^th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, VA: H. E. Howard, Inc., 1989), p. 124.

4 A copy of the will is in the possession of the author. The original is in a Will Book at the Pierce County Court House, Ellsworth, Wis.

5 A copy of the Petition for Probate of Will for Julia E. Geer and a copy of The Final Account and Petition for Assignment of Estate is in the possession of the author. The originals are in the Pierce County Court House, Ellsworth, Wis.