Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Geesey, Charles April 10, 1850 - ????
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Banja http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00004.html#0000757 December 12, 2024, 1:41 pm

Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Philadelphia, 1892.
Author: Samuel T. Wiley

CHARLES GEESEY,
a lawyer in successful practice in Altoona, and who served for three
consecutive terms as prothonotary of Blair county, is a son of Henry and
Elizabeth (Koofer) Geesey, and was born at Frankstown, in Frankstown
township, Blair county, Pennsylvania, April 10, 1850. His paternal and
maternal ancestors were among the earliest settlers of York county, to which
section they emigrated from Germany. His grandfather, Conrad Geesey, moved
from York to Blair county early in the nineteenth century, and made his home
in Frankstown township. His son, Henry Geesey (father), married Elizabeth
Koofer, and was by turns during his life a farmer and mechanic near
Frankstown village. His children numbered nine, of whom the youngest was
Charles, of whose youthful industry and energy it may be remarked that he so
improved the limited educational advantages offered by home schooling, that
at the age of seventeen, while attending the district school, he was
requested to take charge of the McCune school, in Frankstown township. For
four years thereafter he employed his winters in school teaching, and his
summers in prosecuting his own studies at the Juniata Collegiate institute,
and under Professors Cort, Alexander, and Marsden. After that he devoted his
time exclusively to teaching until June, 1881, having thus occupied the
educational field as an instructor for a period of fourteen years, of which
the last seven or eight years were passed in the grammar and intermediate
departments of the public schools of Altoona. It may be here observed that
Mr. Geesey's father intended him for the ministry, and sought to incline him
that way; but the young man having no taste for the profession, the effort
was soon abandoned. In 1868 he experimented in the study of dentistry with
Dr. J. W. Isenberg, of Altoona. It needed, however, only a brief experience
to convince him that dentistry was not to his liking. At the age of twenty he
set out to master the profession of law, and he expected to follow his
inclination to the end of a thorough course. Circumstances forbade it, for he
was soon compelled to turn his best energies towards such employment as should
provide him subsistence, and thus he regretfully relinquished his one favorite
pursuit. In 1876 Mr. Geesey was put forward as a candidate for nomination to
the office of county register and recorder. The nomination, which was made
under the Crawford county system (by the people), went against him, but only
by a majority of one hundred and forty-five votes. In June, 1881, Mr. Geesey
entered the office of the locomotive shops at Altoona as clerk. He had by
this time won conspicuous notice as a man of progressive, intelligent spirit,
and being put forward as a candidate for nomination before the republican
convention to the office of prothonotary of Blair county, he was carried to
the front, although six other candidates opposed him. The election that
followed was hotly contested, the opposition being led by J. P. Stewart,
democrat, and W. R. Donald, labor reform. Although the democrats had for the
three preceding terms chosen their candidate for prothonotary, the republican
champion bore his colors to the fore on this occasion, after a remarkable
close struggle. He was elected in 1882, and again in 1885 and 1888, and
served acceptably and with credit to himself during his three terms. At the
expiration of his first term he passed the preliminary examination to read
law, registered as a student with Martin Bell, then district attorney, and
was admitted to the bar at the December term of 1891. After admission he
opened an office in Altoona, where he is building up a good practice.
   In October, 1871, Mr. Geesey married Anna B. Smith, daughter of William C.
Smith, at one time a well known citizen of Mechanicsburg, Indiana county. They
have six children, three sons and three daughters: Bessie, wife of Guy R.
Singafelt, a book-keeper in a wholesale establishment of Chicago; Roy,
Charles, Edna, Walter, and Grace.
   Charles Geesey is a member of the Second Evangelical Lutheran church of
Altoona. He has a nice residence at No. 914 Sixth avenue, while his law
office is situated in the Simmons block. He is a member and worshipful master
of Juniata Lodge, No. 282, Free and Accepted Masons; king in Mt. Moriah
Chapter, No. 166, Royal Arch Masons; a member of Mountain Council, No. 9,
Royal and Select Masters, and Mountain Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar.
Mr. Geesey is also a member of the Improved Order of Heptasophs. He is
popular with the public, and his perseverance, industry, and integrity
warrant him success in the future, such as he has achieved in the past.

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2001. Transcribed by Linda Shillinger  LindasTree@AOL.COM

This file has been created by a form at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pafiles/

File size: 5.3 Kb