BIOGRAPHY: Philip J. GEUS, Cambria County, PA
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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 480-1
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PHILIP J. GEUS, proprietor of the Hastings meat market, and one of the founders
of the mercantile business of that prosperous town, is a son of Andrew and
Walburga (Karl) Geus, and was born at Carrolltown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania,
May 27, 1862. He was reared in his native town, and received his education in
the common schools and St. Vincent's College, of Latrobe, Westmoreland county,
where he took the classical course. After leaving that excellent and well-known
institution of higher learning, he taught for two winters, and employed the
intervening summers in painting.
At the close of that time, in 1882, he received a very favorable offer, and
became a clerk in a general mercantile house in, Braddock, this State, in which
he remained until 1883, when he accepted a similar position in Carrolltown.
Three years later he became connected with the mercantile firm of John Schroth,
of Wilmore, where he remained until 1888, and during one year and a half of that
time served as assistant postmaster.
In 1888, in partnership with others, he opened a general mercantile
establishment and large lumber yards at Hastings. They soon built up a good
business, and added shingles and railroad ties as specialties to their lumber
business. Seventeen months later Mr. Geus disposed of his interest to his
partners, and, after a short rest spent on the farm with his brother, he, in
partnership with another, engaged in the butchering business. They established
the Hastings meat market, April, 1890, and a Patton market some time later; and
at the end of three years Mr. Geus found this line of business both healthful
and profitable, and purchased his partner's interest at Hastings, while they
sold the Patton branch. Making some changes in the meat market and slaughter
yards, he has continued the business most successfully up to the present time.
He is a working proprietor, and in the management looks as closely to every
detail as to planning the general work of his business, which is increasing with
every year. Mr. Geus is frank in the expression of his sentiments, although not
obtruding his opinions on any one. He is a member of the Catholic church, upon
whose services he is a regular attendant. He has always been identified with the
Republican party, and gives it a wholehearted support in every campaign and upon
every issue.
On September 2, 1894, Mr. Geus was united in marriage with Hannah Campbell,
a daughter of John Campbell, of Shenandoah, Schuylkill county. Their union has
been blessed with one child, a daughter, whom they named Annie Maria.
Philip J. Geus is of German descent, and his father, Andrew Geus, was born
near the celebrated city of Worms, in Germany, and learned the trades of a
cooper and brewer.
Mr. and Mrs. Geus had six children, all sons: William, who learned the
trade of brewer with his father, and is now engaged in brewing, in St. Louis,
Missouri; John, died in early manhood; Frank, now deceased; Andrew, a butcher by
trade, but now engaged in farming in Susquehanna township; George I., a butcher
and baker by trade, and now resident at Gallitzin; and Philip J., whose name
appears at the head of this sketch.