The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-09-20
Our Candidates.

Gen. John W. Geary, our nominee for
Governor, belongs to ono of the many
Scoth-Irish families which are to be found
within the borders of Pennsylvania. 1t
would be strange, therefore, if he had
failed to inherit the sterling qualities of
head and heart that comprise the cbarac-
teristics of that race 10 which he belongs,
and who combine the fire, wit, and vivac-
ity of the Irishman with the shrewduess,
intellect, and pertinacity of the Scotch
OF this Scotcb-Irish race are many of the
best inteIlects of the day, and especially
of Pennsy yivania. They are TO De found
among the people and in posts of trust
and responsibility, in rural districts as
farmers, in cities as merchants, in church
es as preachers, in courts as lawyers and
judges, in legislative halls as patriots and
statesmen, and in military life as skillful
and devoted soldiers. Two positions held
BY Gen. Geary have contributed more.
perhaps, than all other influences COM
bined, to give him a reputation among
the people, and to prove him worthy of
being the chief magistrate of the second
State in the Union. The first of these is
the part he took as Governor of Kansas
territory, and afterwards as Colonel, then
Brigadler General, and then Major Gen
eral in the Union army.
Gen. Geary was born in Westmoreland
county, in this State, on the 10th day of
December, 1919, and hence Is now in his
forty-seventh year. During the years
when Gen. Geary was boy, his father
was engaged in the manufacture of iron,
business which at that time much more
than the present exposed capital to dan
ger of loss. While young Geary was yet
mere boy, his father became insolvent,
and was of course compelled to retire from
business pursuits. During the few remain
ing years of his life, he supported his
family as preceptor of a select school
He was never able, however, to rid him.
self of the burden of debt that hung over
him, and at his death, left it and a good
name as the only legacies of his two sons
At the time of his fathers decease, young
Geary was attending Jefferson College,
which he Immediately forsook in order to
take upon himself the duties that devol-
we'd upon him by reason of his bereave-
ment. He bravely assumed, not only the
81 I,,E ~ ~
discharge the remaining debts of his
father, and this, through his iudomitable
industry and most praiseworthy economy,
he succeeded in doing. Thus in Gen.
Geary is again exempli6ed that nobility
and magnahimity liz youth are the uner-
ring marks of usefulness, honor, ard often
distinction in mature years. Subsequently,
he engaged for brief period as a clerk in
a wholesale mercantile establishment ia
PittsbuTe; after this he engaged in the
study of civil engineering, and also of the
law, to which he was admitted to practice
in his native county.
Space will not allow us to follow the
subject of our sketch through al the
events of his little less than romantic
career. Suffice it to say that on the
breaking out of the Mexican war, Gen.
Geary was Superintendent of the ALE
gheny Portage Railroad and resident of
cur own county; that he accepted the
captaincy of company attached 70 the
ID Pennsylvania regiment of volunteers !;
that he took part in the actions of La
uoya, Cerro Gordo, Chepultepec and
Garita de Belen, aad at the close of the
war, returned home, the Aonored Colonel
Of the regiment. In January, 1919, be
Vas by President Polk appointed post
master of San francisco. This position
he held but a short time. Scarcely, how
ever, had he retired from his duties until
he was elected First Alcalde or Mayor of
the city. and was soon after made Judge
of First Instance by Brig. Gen. Riley, of
the U. s. Army. In May, 1850, he was
elected Mayor Of San francisco, and at
the expiration Of bis term declined