Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1866-06-20
Major Gen. John w. Geary.
HIS PUBLIC SERVICES.

John W. Geary was born in West.
moreland county, Pa, and although
now only forty six years of age, has
already won lasting fame by his ad-
herence to the cause of right and duty
in the different parts of the country in
which he has been placed, in civil, mil
itary, judicial and executive positions.
| Having lost his father very early in
life, he was thrown upon his own re-
sources, and not only supported him
self, but became the stay of his widowed
mother by teaching a village school;
during which time he also, by perse-
! vcrancc, industry and commendable
economy, acquired means to procure
classical education, which he completed
at J etferson College, Cannonsburg, Pa,
created lifelong friends among profes-
sors and classmates; by the early ex-
hlbltiOn of those same sterling qualities
that have since endeared him to so
many others in social and in public
! life
Having finished his collegiate educa-
! ton he assumed the profession of q
civil engineer, in the practice of which
he went to Kentucky, partly in the
/ employ Of the Commonwealth, and
/ partly IN that of the Green River Rail
road Company; and was engaged in
! the survey Of several very important
branches Of the public improvements
Of that State. After an experience
with the Engineer Corps in many of
the States, he successfully filled all the
various offices from clerkship to the
superintendcncy ofthe Allegheny Por-
tage Railroad, and during several years
discharged the duties of his response
bic positions with complete satistac-
ton.
When the war with Mexico was de-
clared, he was among the first who
responded to the call for volunteers,
and was accepted, along with the
"Amcrican IIighlanders, of Cambria
county, which splendid company he
then commanded. They were incor-
porated in 2d Pennsylvania Regiment,
of which, upon its organization, he was
almostunanimously elected Lieutenant
Colonel.
His regiment joined the army ofGen
Scott at Vera Cruz, and served in the
advance under The command, and on
the line Of operations, Of that great
chicttan through his brilliant cam
paign in Mexico. Geary was attached
to Gen. Quitman's division, and dis
tinguished himself in the batt.>@ Of
"La Hoya," "Chapultepec," "Garita
dc Belen," and the Getty Of Mexico !"
| Upon arriving at the capital, his col
oncl having died, he was elected colonel
by vote Of more than two-thirds of
the command. This compliment was
not the result of mere friendship or
political preference. 1t was the reward
for his own good conduct from the
hands of tho gallant soldiers-the
spontaneous and grateful gift of asso-
ciates in armS-the brave men who
had fought by his side, shared his pri-
vations, suffering and dangers, and who
witnessed and knew best how to apprc-
ciate his merits.
The war having closed, Col. Geary
returned with the remnant of his com
mand to his native State, and the peo-
pie of Pittsburgh will long remem Der
the enthusiastic welcome he received
upon his arrival among them. Hon.
William Wilkins, in a public speech,
complimented the services Of the gal
liant, weather beaten and war worn
troops, and the excitement Of the
universal jubilee ran to the highest
pitch.
On the 22d of January, 1849, in re-
, | for
dent Polk appointed Col. Geary post
master at San Francisco, which, in
consequence of the then recent dscov-
cry OF gold in California, had become
. port OF considerable consequence
He was also empowered to create post
) offices, appoint postmasters, establish
mail routes, and make contracts for
carrying the mails throughout Califor
MIA. He was thus placed in the way
of his subsequent and almost unparal
led success and popularity among the
Heterogeneous population of the Eure
ka State.
On the 1st of August, 1849, the mu
nicipal election of San Francisco took
place, and although ten different tickets
+ were framed for the various minor
, offices, his name appeared at the heaC
of them all, and he received every vote
cast that day for the office Of Frs
E Alcade, it being at that time the mos
: important, responsible and dificuI
, office in the State Of California. l
required administrative and executiv,
abilities of the rarest quality. Th
population numbered 10000, almos
entirely adult males; drawn togethe
E from every section of the world, an
possessed of every imaginable variet.
o. of character.
To effect anything like a proper OF