John Geers of Texas County, Missouri

John Geers is a prosperous stock man and farmer of Texas County, Mo., and is the third of five children born to the marriage of William L. Geers and Desdemona Higgins, natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Illinois. They were married in the latter State, and settled in Madison County, where they were engaged in farming, and where the father died in 1849. His widow is still living, and is considerably advanced in years. John Geers was born in Madison County, Ill., March 20, 1841, and was reared on a farm, receiving a common-school education. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Seventeenth Volunteer Infantry, United States Army, and was a faithful supporter of the "Stars and Stripes" for three years. The battles in which he took part are as follows: Pleasant Hill, Nashville, Fort Spanish, Fort Blakely and several others. He was never wounded nor taken prisoner, and after his return to Illinois was married, February 27, 1866, to Sarah A. Radcliff, also a native of Madison County, and moved soon after to Chariton County, Mo., where he engaged in farming. While his wife was on a visit to her old home she was taken ill, and died in 1871, leaving three children: Nicholas G., Okalona and Joan. Since 1874 Mr. Geers has been a resident of Texas County, and was here married, November 4, 1877, to Mary E. Williams, a native of North Carolina, born July 11, 1862, and by her is the father of five children: William L., Mary C., Charles F., John E. and Lucy D. Mr. and Mrs. Geers are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Republican in his political views. He has been twice nominated for county sheriff, and although the county has a Democratic majority of 800, he came within sixty-one votes of election in the last race. He owns 524 acres of land, with about 140 acres under cultivation, and has been quite successful in his business enterprises.