GEISEL MONUMENT, Curry County. In a small state park just west of the Oregon Coast Highway about seven miles north of Gold Beach stands the Geisel Monument, marking the graves of John Geisel and his family. A granite shaft is inscribed: "Sacred to the memory of John Geisel, also his three sons, John, Henry, and Andrew, who were massacred by the Indians, February 22, A.D. 1856, ages respectively, 45, 9, 7, and 5 years. Also wife and mother died September 20, 1899, age 75 years." There are individual grave stones and the plot is surrounded by an ornamental iron fence. The Geisel massacre was the outstanding tragedy in the early history of Curry County. It is described in Dodge's Pioneer History of Coos and Curry Counties, pages 346-48.
GEISER, Baker County. This mining camp was named for Albert Geiser, owner of the Bonanza mine. Geiser post office was established July 15, 1898, with Ed. Geiser first postmaster. The office was discontinued May 18, 1909.
GEM, Baker County. Gem was the name applied to the post office later called Sparta. Gem was named for a mine but the compiler does not know its exact location. William Lynn White served as postmaster from August 7, 1871, to October 29, 1872, when the name of the office was changed to Sparta. White did not continue as postmaster, which may mean that the office was moved at the time the name was changed. This is just assumption, however. When Gem post office was established it was in Union County in what was known as the Panhandle, The Panhandle was later attached to Baker County.
GENEVA, Jefferson County. This post office was established about 1914 through the efforts of John T. Monical. His wife's name was Geneva Monical, and the office is said to have been named for her, as she was the first postmaster.
GEORGE, Clackamas County. This community was named for Melvin C. George, of Portland, former representative in Congress from Oregon. Judge George was born in Ohio in 1849. He came to Oregon when he was two years old. He was a practicing lawyer for many years and occupied various political positions, including that of circuit judge. He was representative in Congress from 1881 to 1885, and while he was in that position a petition was received at Washington for a post office in Clackamas County. Walter Q. Gresham was postmaster general at that time and suggested Judge George's name for the new office, which was accordingly adopted. The place is not now a post office. Judge George died February 22, 1933.
GERBER RESERVOIR, Klamath County. Gerber Reservoir, in southeast Klamath County, stores water for irrigation. It was named for Louis C. Gerber, an early settler in the locality, who owned a considerable part of the reservoir site.
GERDINE BUTTE, Deschutes County. Gerdine Butte, elevation 6600 feet, is in the extreme southwest corner of the county, about seven miles north of Maiden Peak and just east of the summit of the Cascade Range. It was named in compliment to Thomas Golding Gerdine, for many years a topographic engineer in the United States Geological Survey. Major Gerdine was born at West Point, Mississippi, on June 2, 1872, and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1891. He joined the Geological Survey in 1893 and with the exception of short services for the General Land Office and for the War Department, he remained with the Survey until his death. He spent nearly ten years in difficult field work
