Personal and business papers of San Francisco's first mayor.

John White Geary was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in 1819. He served in the Mexican War with the 2nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. President Polk appointed him Postmaster of San Francisco January 22, 1849, with powers to create post offices, appoint postmasters, establish mail routes, and make contracts for carrying the mails throughout California. Geary was elected Alcalde January 8, 1850, and then became first mayor of San Francisco May 1, 1850; he was later governor of the Kansas Territory, and the 16th governor of Pennsylvania. His first marriage was to Margaret Ann Logan, and they had two sons. He died in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, February 8, 1873, soon after his second term as governor ended.

2 folders

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