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Charles F. Geyer is numbered among the prominent agriculturists
<br />of Madison township, the proprietor of Park Farm. He was born in
<br />the neighboring county of LaPorte on the 15th of October, 1857, and
<br />his father, Jacob Geyer, had his nativity in Stolsbury-on-the-Rhine,
<br />Germany, as did also his father, Jacob Geyer, Sr. The last named died
<br />at the age of 96 years. One of his sons was an officer in the French
<br />army for 40 years, and during that time participated in the Franco-
<br />Prussian war, making a gallant record as a soldier. The son Jacob
<br />grew to manhood's estate in the land of his birth and received an
<br />excellent educational training in his native language, but at the age
<br />of 18, in order to escape service in the army, he made his way across
<br />the Rhine and on a sailing vessel to the United States, six weeks elaps-
<br />ing ere he reached the harbor of New York. From there he made his
<br />way to Toledo, Ohio, and thence on foot to Mishawaka, St. Joseph
<br />county, Indiana, where he assisted in the building of the Lake Shore
<br />Railroad. After a time he went to LaPorte, where he secured employ-
<br />ment as a fireman, but later turned his attention to farming and for
<br />five years resided on a farm in German township, St. Joseph county.
<br />Removing thence to a farm in Marshall county, Indiana, he spent the
<br />remainder of his life there, dying in 1904, at the age of 76 years. His
<br />political views were in harmony with the principles of the Democratic
<br />party, and his religious affiliations were with the Lutheran church.
<br />Mrs. Geyer bore the maiden name of Regina Nusselman, and is a na-
<br />tive of Alsace, France, a daughter of Joseph Nusselman. Thirteen
<br />children were born to them, of whom seven grew to years of maturity,
<br />namely: Charles F., whose name introduces this review; Caroline Al-
<br />berts; Jacob, a resident of Penn township; Anna, the wife of Levi
<br />Hahn. of Madison township; Joseph, a resident of Bremen; David, a
<br />farmer of German township, Marshall county, Indiana; and Ed, who
<br />lives in Mishawaka with his mother. She has rounded the Psalmist's
<br />span of three score years and ten, a lady whom to know is to revere
<br />and honor.
<br />On his father's farm in Penn township Charles F. Geyer was earl'
<br />taught the work of the farm, and the educational training which he
<br />received in the public schools was supplemented in later life by exten-
<br />sive reading and travel. During a period of 14 years he was en;;aged
<br />in the saw -milling business in Madison and German townships, owning
<br />at one time a portable mill, but this was destroyed by fire. He is now
<br />the owner of a valuable farm of 160 acres in Section 36, Madison town-
<br />ship, known as Park Farm, where he is extensively engaged in agricul-
<br />tural pursuits and stock raising.
<br />On the first of September, 1886, Mr. Geyer was united in marriage
<br />to Ida Strope, who was born, reared, and educated in Madison town-
<br />ship, a daughter of A. J. and Catherine (Minky) Strope, prominent
<br />early settlers of the community, and the former of whom is deceased.
<br />but the latter is still living. They reared a large family of children.
<br />Ten children, five sons and five daughters, have been born to Mr. and
<br />Mrs. Geyer, namely: Grace G., Walter W., Emma E., Mabel I., Dora
<br />C., Roscoe C., Warren W., Layton Miner, Edna F., and Lloyd D'. The
<br />children are receiving excellent educational advantages, and two of
<br />them have successfully passed the eighth grade. Air. Geyer has been
<br />quite an extensive traveler during his lifetime, and to him was accorded
<br />the pleasure of visiting the World's Fairs at Chicago, Buffalo. ?\ ,
<br />York, and St. Louis, Missouri. He is independent in his political affilia-
<br />tons, and he justly merits the high regard in which he i. held.
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