Maj. William Logan Geary, USA

Major William Logan Geary was born in San Francisco, California, on April 18th, 1849, the son of Major General John W. Geary, who served as Colonel of a Pennsylvania Regiment in the Mexican War and as a Major-General of Volunteers during the Civil War. He was the first white child born in San Francisco, his father having been the last Alcalde in California under Mexican rule and the first Mayor of San Francisco, after the annexation of California to the United States. Major Geary first entered the service of the United States at the age of twelve years, when he enlisted as a drummer boy in the 28th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in which he served from June of 1861 to September of 1862. In September of 1870, he was appointed a cadet at West Point, graduating in June of 1874. Upon his graduation he was assigned to the Twelfth Infantry, acting as Adjutant of this regiment from February, 1875, to November, 1878. He was promoted to a First Lieutenancy in 1880, resigning from the service in 1884. While in the Twelfth Infantry he was stationed at Fort McDowell, Angel Island, California, Forts Bowie and Grant, Arizona, and at Plattsburg Barracks, New York. After leaving the Army in 1884 he was associated with others in Eastern Oregon and Western Idaho in the mercantile business and various other enterprises. In the fall of 1893 he went into engineering work at Portland, Oregon, and was later identified with the United States Engineer Corps in various river and harbor improvements. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, he was appointed a Captain in the Second United States Volunteer Engineers, serving with this Regiment in Cuba until mustered out in May 1899. He was commissioned a Captain in the Thirty-fifth United States Volunteers in June 1899, and was appointed as the Regimental Quartermaster. This regiment was ordered to the Philippines shortly after being organized and saw service in Northern Luzon. He was commissioned a Major in the Thirty-fifth U. S. Volunteers, December 1899, and served as such until mustered out in February of 1901, at the Presidio, San Francisco. Having been appointed by President McKinley Captain in the Commissary Department, he re-entered the regular establishment immediately upon being mustered out of the Thirty-fifth U. S. Volunteers, and was assigned to duty as Assistant to the Purchasing Commissary at San Francisco. Two years later he was ordered to Manila and assigned to duty as Chief Commissary, Department of Vissayas, at Iloilo. He received his Majority in the Subsistence Department October 13th, 1905. In May, 1906, he returned to the United States and was assigned to Seattle, Washington, as Purchasing Commissary; and was in charge of this office at the time of his death, which occurred at the Presidio General Hospital, December 6th, 1907, from an acute case of Bright's disease.

Major Geary was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, joining the Pennsylvania Commandery in 1880, and being transferred to the Commandery of the State of Washington in December, 1906. He is survived by a widow, Mrs. Agnes E. Geary, and by six children, Dr. H. L. Geary, of Seattle, Mr. E. H. Geary, Mr. J. W. Geary and Mr. E. G. Geary, of San Francisco, and Lieutenant W. D. Geary, Twelfth Cavalry, U. S. A., and Miss Margaret L. Geary.

Geary, William L. BATTLE UNIT NAME: 28th Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry SIDE: Union COMPANY: F&S SOLDIER'S RANK IN: Musician SOLDIER'S RANK OUT: Private ALTERNATE NAME: FILM NUMBER: M554 ROLL 42 PLAQUE NUMBER: NOTES: none

The Oregonian Portland, Oregon Dec. 7, 1907 Page 9 Columns 3 and 4 MAJ. W.L. GEARY IS DEAD

First White Child born in San Francisco, Veteran of Two Wars

San Francisco, Dec. 6- Major William L, Geary, U.S.A., died early today in the Army General Hospital at the Presidio, where he had been ill with Bright’s disease of the kidneys.

Major William Logan Geary was born in San Francisco on April 18, 1849, and was the first child born of American parents in that city. His father, who was an officer in the Mexican War, was appointed by President Taylor Alcalde of San Francisco, being the last to hold that position under the Spanish regime. He was also the first Mayor of San Francisco.

Major Geary entered the Army during the Civil War as a drummer boy. After the war he was appointed to a cadet at West Point by President Johnson. He graduated in the class of 1874. While at the academy he had as classmate and room-mate Colonel C.E.S. Wood, of Portland.

After 15 years in the Army, Major Geary resigned and went to reside in Sonoma County, California. Later he removed to Ontario, in Eastern Oregon, where he opened a general merchandise store.

Afterwards he entered the office of Captain (now Colonel) Symonds, of the Engineer Corps, stationed at Portland, where he held the position of chief clerk. He retained this position until the outbreak of the Spanish War, when he joined the volunteer army as Captain. Upon the reorganization of the Army after the close of the war, Major Geary was transferred to the regular service and promoted to the rank of Major.

He is survived by his widow and five sons, Dr. H. Logan Geary, of Seattle; Edward H. Geary, of Oakland, Cal.; John W. and Ernest Geary, of San Francisco; Lieutenant William D. Geary, U.S.A., stationed at the Presidio, and daughter, Margaret L. Geary, Dr. E.P. Geary, of this city, is a cousin of Major Geary.