Isaac Wheeler Geer

Isaac Wheeler Geer (February 1, 1873 in Plainfield, Conn. – June 20, 1953 in Chicago) was a prominent railroad executive who served as general manager of the Southwestern Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, based in St. Louis. He is best known for his involvement in labor disputes with railroad unions.

After graduating from Phillips Academy, Andover, Isaac attended Yale, earning several awards in science and mathematics. He served as editor of the Yale Scientific Monthly.[1] Upon graduating Isaac W. Geer began his career as an engineer on several major rail lines through the Midwest. By 1906, he had become superintendent of the Logansport division, covering Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and St. Louis. In 1920, Isaac was promoted to general manager.[2]

Labor dispute (1921)

In 1921 Isaac (I.W.) Geer became embroiled in a dispute with labor unions that played out in newspapers across the country.[3] The unions claimed that I W Geer had authorized railroad executives to “defame” labor unions in order to force them to reveal information on the unions and on wage cuts. The unions produced a letter purportedly written by Geer;[4] however, during hearings of the United States Railway Labor Board, union lawyers failed to prove the authenticity of the letter.[5] Geer claimed the letter to be inauthentic.[6]

Family

Isaac W Geer was a member of the prominent Geer family of Connecticut. He was named after his grandfather, Col. Isaac Wheeler Geer, an office holder, farmer, and leader of the Connecticut militia. His parents were David and Eunice Witter Geer.[7]

On October 23, 1901, he married Margaret Worth Thornton,[1] daughter of Henry Clay Thornton and Millamenta Worth, and sister of Sir Henry Worth Thornton.[8] Margaret was also a cousin of Judge William Wheeler Thornton and niece of Dr. William Patton Thornton.[9] The Geers had two children: Helen Thornton Geer, author and Professor of Library Science; and Margaret Worth Geer, who married Rep. John Henry Kleine (R-Lake Forest, Ill.), a member of the Illinois State Legislature.

Notes
  1. Quindecennial Record of the Class of 1895, Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University, Yale University Press, 1912. (Compiled by Wm. Parsons)
  2. Logansport Pharos-Tribune. Logansport, Indiana (pg. 2), February 24, 1920
  3. New York Times. New York, New York: April 9, 1921 (pg. 24); May 13, 1921 (pg.17)
  4. Titusville Herald. Titusville, Pennsylvania (pg. 1), March 23, 1921.
  5. Waterloo Evening Courier. Waterloo, Iowa (pg. 1), May 12, 1921.
  6. Logansport Pharos-Tribune. Logansport, Indiana (pg. 1), April 8, 1921
  7. Geer, Walter and James Geer. The Geer Genealogy: A Historical Record of George and Thomas Geer; Brentano’s, 1923
  8. Barriger, John Walker, Sir Henry Thornton: Pioneer. Newcomen Society of England, American Branch. 1948
  9. See Thornton genealogy: www.thorntonsoky.blogspot.com
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