George Spencer Geer was born 17 May 1836 in Troy, New York to Gilbert Geer (1795) and Adna Spencer (c1801) and died 9 October 1892 Charleston, South Carolina, United States of swamp fever (either malaria or leptospirosis). He married Martha Clark Hamilton (c1837) 3 October 1858 in New York, New York.
Early life
George Geer grew up in Troy, New York where his father and brother ran a foundry manufacturing stoves. George became experienced in maintaining the steam engines. After marrying and moving to New York City, Geer had financial difficulties, losing his job and descending into debt. His family lived in an apartment at 25 Pitt street, near the intersection with Delancey street. His landlord was Mrs. Del Long in the tenement neighborhoods in the Lower East Side. On February 15, 1862, George joined the Navy to learn a more salable trade, entering as a First class Fireman (paid $30 per month rather than $18 per month for a coal heaver) due to his experience at the family's foundry.
Civil war service
On entry, Geer was assigned to the receiving ship USS North Carolina. Served on the USS Monitor, an historic naval vessel. Served onboard Monitor during the battle with the Merrimack on 9 March 1862. Served as honorary pallbearer at the funeral of John Ericsson, inventor of the Monitor.
Footnotes (including sources)
| ‡ General |
Battle of Hampton Roads on March 9, 1862, during the American Civil War, in which Monitor fought the ironclad CSS Virginia of the wikipedia:Confederate States Navy. ‘‘Monitor’’ was the first in a long line of [[wikipedia:Passaic class monitor|Monitor-class]] U.S. warships and the term "monitor" describes a broad class of European harbor defense craft. |
| ¶ Death |
on October 9, 1892 in Charleston, South Carolina, while working as a manager of the phosphate mines for the Bradley Company of Boston, Ma. He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Troy, New York." source |
technical demo notes