Philip G Geck

Philip G. Geck, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Geck was born on December 19, 1860 at Hessen, Germany. He attended school from the age of six until he was fourteen years old. Then he worked at common labor. His parents came to the United States in 1881 and he followed them in 1883.

He went directly to Detroit, Michigan where a relative was living, and found employment driving a grocery wagon until 1886. In April of the same year he came to Glen Ullin, North Dakota, accompanied by his brother Casper.

He took up a homestead which was the south half of section 8, Township 139, range eighty-seven. This Township was first named Blue Grass and later changed to Geck Township.

He and his brother Casper built a 10 foot x 12 foot one-room house. About six months later two more rooms were added. These rooms were made of stone. They started raising sheep and also did some farming. From 1887 to 1891, he and his brother, Casper, operated a flour mill in Glen Ullin, which was the first one in that area. They could not make a success of it, so they moved the building onto their farm.

He was united in marriage to Christina Feser on May 11, 1891 at Glen Ullin.

Mrs. Geck, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Feser, was born on March 25, 1873 in Germany where she also attended school and then in the fall of 1880, followed her parents to the United States and still later to Glen Ullin.

Fourteen children were born to this union. Katherine, born on July 25, 1892; Emma on September 4, 1893; Mary on December 19, 1894; Henry on September 5, 1896; Gregory on July 24, 1898; son on July 24, 1898; Phillip on December 9, 1900; William on December 3, 1902; Gertrude on January 11, 1906; Margaret on June 3, 1908; Wilhelmina on May 26, 1911; Joseph and Frederick on January 13, 1913; Frances on March 12, 1915.

Mr. and Mrs. Geck left their farm and moved to Glen Ullin in 1925. Mrs. Geck died on May 25, 1938. Mr. Geck died on May 11, 1950. Eight of his children are still living. Mary Gietzen, William, Gertrude Schneider, Margaret Schlatter, and Frances Bechhold in Glen Ullin. Philip on a farm near Glen Ullin. Henry at Salem, Oregon. Wilhelmina Meissner at Mt. Angel, Oregon.