Â
A note was recently shared with Firegeezer.com by Thomas Parquette from Branson, Missouri, and is published here with his and the website’s permission.
Hi ‘Geezer,’
I thought you might find this story interesting. The photo was taken around 1885 and shows Engine Company 11 of the Chicago Fire Department. It was reprinted in a fire-related publication in 1925, though the name of that publication remains unknown to me.
The second man from the left in the photo is my great-grandfather, George Geis. He died in the line of duty around 1902 when a wall collapsed on him. His father, also named George Geis, was one of the earliest firefighters with the Chicago Fire Department and was killed during the Great Chicago Fire in the 1870s.
George Geis, the son of the man in the photo, was my grandfather. He was a firefighter in Chicago and witnessed the transition from horse-drawn engines to motorized units. He was part of the final call for the last horse-drawn team in the city—Buck, Beauty & Dan. I actually have a photo of that event as well.
My grandfather suffered critical injuries when a drunk driver crashed into the hook and ladder he was driving as the tiller operator. He later died from those injuries in the early 1930s, but at the time, the union was still in its infancy, and he never received any compensation from the city.
All three generations of Geis men were career firefighters. They all shared the same first name, differing only by their middle initials. Each of them died in the line of duty or as a result of it. All were members of the Chicago Fire Department.
My uncle, Stephen Geis, went on to become Chief of the Downers Grove Fire Department in the 1950s, and his son, my cousin, is also a full-time firefighter today.
I thought this history might be of interest to your readers. I’d like to thank the Fire Museum of Chicago for their help in researching and verifying the details of this family legacy. This photo comes from their archives.
Keep up the excellent work. Your coverage is engaging and your writing has a unique, friendly tone that makes it easy to read.
Thomas Parquette
Branson, Missouri
Â
milling machine face cutter,peripheral and face milling,peripheral milling and face milling,best face mill for aluminum,best face mill for steel
SICHUAN JOJO TOOLS CO., LTD , https://www.jojo-tools.com