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Carlton Arden Geer

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Carlton Arden Geer

Birth	:	1831 Chautauqua County, New York, USA
Death	:	7 Mar 1865 Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, USA
Burial	:	Druid Ridge Cemetery, Pikesville, Baltimore County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.3793800, -76.7275700
Plot	:	Section K Site 948
Description	:	Born 1831 in Chautauqua County, New York, Carlton moved west to become a farmer in Wisconsin and Minnesota. At age 21 he married Elizabeth ("Betsey") Lucretia Rolfe, and together they had three boys, William, Byron and John. Aug 19, 1862, the same year his son John was born, Carlton joined the Minnesota 9th Volunteer Infantry and went off to serve in the Civil War. June 10, 1864 his infantry fought in the Battle of Brice's Crossing, where union soldiers were led in blazing heat through thick forest and rough terrain, while already deprived of sleep and rations.... Read More	Born 1831 in Chautauqua County, New York, Carlton moved west to become a farmer in Wisconsin and Minnesota. At age 21 he married Elizabeth ("Betsey") Lucretia Rolfe, and together they had three boys, William, Byron and John. Aug 19, 1862, the same year his son John was born, Carlton joined the Minnesota 9th Volunteer Infantry and went off to serve in the Civil War. June 10, 1864 his infantry fought in the Battle of Brice's Crossing, where union soldiers were led in blazing heat through thick forest and rough terrain, while already deprived of sleep and rations. Though greatly outnumbered, the confederate army lead by general Forrest, who used a brutally efficient strategy, won the battle. Carlton was among 1,500 captive union soldiers taken to the notorious Andersonville Prison. In Andersonville Prison men were kept in cruel conditions. Unprotected from freezing temperatures, prisoners had barely enough room to lie down, and were wedged between other prisoners who had no way to bathe and were diseased and covered with vermin. Given only a few mouthfuls of rotting cornbread that was often made with the husk of corn and only fouled water from a stagnant swamp, prisoners became sick with scurvy and typhoid. Under the floor that was covered with straw, some tunnels were dug. The tunnels were called "Rat Hell", because rats ran over the men in the dark as they dug. Carlton was kept in that Prison for 9 months. One story says he escaped, which though possible (some men did escape through the tunnels) his name does not appear on any of those lists, and it is assumed he was released in a prisoner exchange at the end of the war. He was brought to a hospital in Maryland. Hospital records show he was starved and weakened by his treatment in prison and had typhoid fever. He died two days after admission, on March 7, 1865. He was sandy-haired, grey-eyed, 5' 7" tall. Back in Minnesota his wife Betsey was left with three sons, William (12), Byron (6) and John (3). John also died in 1865. Carlton's son Byron seemed to have inherited his father's physical characteristic in coloring and height. However there are no known photos of Carlton. If you have any, please post them. For generations Carlton was a dead-end in family trees, but I now believe to have found his parents. Through DNA triangulation and researching history of Chautauqua County, it has become more apparent that Samuel Geer and Jemima Barnes were Carlton's grandparents. Samuel was an early pioneer in Chautauqua County. In "Portland, Chautauqua County Sketch" we see Samuel and his father-in-law Benjamin Barnes homesteading in Portland, Chautauqua Co, NY. Samuel was married to Jemima Barnes and had twelve children, including Alanson Geer, who died in 1834, when Carlton was 3, leaving his wife Clarissa and a daughter named "Helen Geer" behind. DNA evidence shows connections between me and other descendants of Carlton to cousins who descended in well-documented lineage from Samuel and Jemima's other children. I also have DNA connections to people who descended from Jemima Barnes' ancestors. Furthermore, I have DNA connections to the ancestors of Alanson's wife, Clarissa Hutchins. There are other clues that Alanson and Clarissa were Carltons's parents, including that Clarissa's 2nd husband, Steven Ludlow, was a relative of the Rolfe family to which Carlton's future wife, Betsey Rolfe. was related. Another clue is the name "Carlton" in Clarissa's great grandmother, and that Carlton names his son William Alanzo which is similar to Alanson. There is also census data that, while they don't name Carlton, support his presence in the household by members in the household by age, and there are geographic clues that support Alanson Geer and Clarissa Hutchins as Carlton's parents. I continue to search for more evidence, but I an convinces that these are Carlton's parents, as there is no other explanation for the DNA connections and the theory has strong support. As a side-note I'd like to point out a source of confusion that some genealogists may run into. While DNA evidence may lead people to think Carlton descended from George Geer and Sarah Allyn of England, it should be noted not to get sidetracked by the Geer name there. There's another DNA connection there that could lead to assumptions that are not yet proven. Far in the ancestory above Betsey Rolfe (Carlton's wife) she has a ancestor named Allyn. That ancestor had a daughter Sarah Allyn who married George Geer, who is believed to be the ancestor of many American Geers. It's a strange coincidence that Carlton's wife has a connection to that Geer family. It is possible that Samuel Geer descended from George Geer and Sarah Allyn, but not yet proven. Note, there is another Samuel Geer, also born in CT, around the same time who married a Lucy Tracy. That is a different Samuel Geer. The above paragraph was added March 2019. At this point there is no known written documentation naming Carlton's parents. If you have information regarding Carlton's ancestors, please contact me. Despite the number of documents available about Carlton's life and his descendants, there has never been any mention of his parents' names on any document that I have found. But DNA and other evidence is strong. During the Civil War Carlton enlisted in the Minnesota 9th infantry, Fort Snelling, MN. His town was listed as Austin MN in his military record. We have not found any record of Carlton and Betsey living in Austin MN. We know he and Betsey lived in Wisconsin, so it may be he moved up there temporarily maybe living with relatives prior to joining Geer cousins. A theory by my cousin Sharon Geer. Something I read long ago made me think that Betsey's second husband, George Lewis, might have been a close friend or maybe even a relative of Carlton. Betsey and George named their son Frank Carlton Lewis, and it would seem odd for a second husband to name his child after the first husband unless they were very good friends or relatives.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Carlton Arden Geer's memorial?
Carlton Arden Geer's memorial is located at: Druid Ridge Cemetery, Pikesville, Baltimore County, USA.
When did Carlton Arden Geer death?
Carlton Arden Geer death on 7 Mar 1865 in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Carlton Arden Geer's memorial?
Latitude: 39.3793800
Longitude: -76.7275700

Family Members:

Spouse

Elizabeth Lucretia “Betsy” Rolfe Lewis

(1835 - 1925)

Children

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Druid Ridge Cemetery
Pikesville, Baltimore County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3793800, -76.7275700

2. Saint Charles Borromeo Church Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.3738100, -76.7254000

3. Mettam Memorial Baptist Church Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.3780700, -76.7197300

4. Stone Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.3934000, -76.7407500

5. Howard Graveyard at Grayrock
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6. Holy Trinity Monastery Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.3971991, -76.7277734

7. Croxall Family Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.3968735, -76.7207870

8. Saint Thomas Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.3605995, -76.7735977

9. Mount Olive Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.3623400, -76.7769800

10. Arlington Chizuk Amuno Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.3442001, -76.6971970

11. Hook Family Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.3886600, -76.6653300

12. Rosewood State Hospital Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.4215500, -76.7619000

13. Saint Thomas Episcopal Church Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.4215500, -76.7619000

14. Resurrection Acres Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.3353340, -76.7691617

15. Bihy Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.3278008, -76.7506027

16. Cockey-Reed Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.4196400, -76.6671300

17. Shaarei Tfiloh Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.3163700, -76.7175700

18. Har Sinai Cemetery
Owings Mills, Baltimore County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4353900, -76.7683800

19. Garrison Forest Cemetery
Owings Mills, Baltimore County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4363000, -76.7674800

20. Saint Johns AME Chapel Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.3944300, -76.6458400

21. Saters Baptist Historical Church Cemetery
Timonium, Baltimore County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4362920, -76.6870810

22. Carrolls-Gills United Methodist Church Cemetery
Lutherville, Baltimore County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4465300, -76.7185900

23. Holy Family Cemetery
Randallstown, Baltimore County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3752800, -76.8156000

24. Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery
Owings Mills, Baltimore County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4407600, -76.7680800