Samuel Geer

Samuel Geer was born in Preston, Conn., Nov. 30, 1788. He was the son of John Wheeler and Sally (Denison) Geer, and grandson of Ebenezer, who was son of Robert Geer, whose father, George, was the original emigrant. He was reared a farmer; removed, with his father, two brothers, and two sisters, to Griswold; purchased a tract of about two hundred acres of land of a Mr. Rose, on what is still known as "Geer Hill." It was an early age for him to commence a farmer's life, but he was successful, and when thirty years of age married, Oct. 3, 1820, Anna, daughter of David and Mary (Stanton) Geer, of Ledyard, and granddaughter of the Ebenezer who was grandfather of Samuel. She was born Aug. 12, 1794. They commenced their married life in Preston, where their three daughters, Mary, Prudence Ann, and Lucy Emma, were born. After eight years residence in Preston, Mr. and Mrs. Geer moved back to Mr. Geer's old home in Griswold, and there, after fifty-six years of happy and quiet married life, he died, Feb. 27, 1877, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. Mrs. Geer survives him, and is now in her eighty-eighth year. Mr. Geer was always a farmer, and an excellent one, enjoying the reputation of being one of the best in town, and accumulated a competency. In his social and family relations he was kind and affectionate ; in his business prudent, economical, thoroughly honest, and very active. As a father he was indulgent; as a Christian he was earnest and sincere, giving evidence of both those qualities by the liberality with which he supported the cause of Christ.

At his death he probably had not an enemy in the world. He was a selectman, and held various other town offices, discharging these duties in the same quiet, thorough business way in which his own personal affairs were conducted. He was a pronounced Whig and Republican in politics. Both Mr. and Mrs. Geer were for many years members of the First Congregational (Pachaug) Church of Griswold. Their daughter Prudence married Moses E. Norman, of Ledyard, and had two children, Samuel G. and Hannah A. The latter, a lovely and estimable girl, died May 14, 1881, aged eighteen years and two months. Lucy married Erastus Kinne, of Plainfield, Conn.

History of New London County, Connecticut, With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men, p 416.