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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
CAPT. EDWARD GERARD, deceased, was born near Lexington, Ky., Jan. 26, 1817. His father was Benjamin Gerard, a man of French descent, and his mother, Margaret (Thomas) Gerard, a native of Kentucky. Capt. Gerard came to Iowa in the year 1842, while yet a young man, anti took up a claim in Lee County. In the month of April of that year he was married to Miss Mary A. Martin, who died in November, 1853. By this marriage there were six children, three sons and three daughters, all deceased. Capt Gerard came to this county in the year 1843. Sept. 22, 1858, he was again married, to Margaret L. Pugh, a native of Greene County, Ohio, and a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Shoemaker) Pugh, the former a native of Frederick County, and the latter of Shenandoah County, Va. By this marriage there are three children, one son and two daughters, all living: Elmer, born Aug. 25. 1859, is now living on the home farm, of which he has charge, and combining the teaching of school during the winter months with his farming; Alcyone, born Jan. 26, 1861, and Edna, born July 19, 1866, a school teacher by profession, who has taught several terms. In 1854 Mr. Gerard, with an emigrant train of twelve wagons, drawn by oxen, started from Central Iowa across the western plains to Oregon. After traveling for ten weeks with this train, on account of its slow progress, he with one other man set out to complete the journey. A few days after taking his leave, this train, with the exception of two boys, were all massacred by the Indians on Boise River. After many hazardous adventures and narrow escapes they reached Oregon City, ninety days after crossing the Missouri River, the best time on record for an ox-team. After spending four years on the Pacific Coast, the greater part of the time as a clerk in a dry-goods store in Portland, he concluded to return by water, left San Francisco April 5, and landed in New York April 27, 1858, and came hack to Iowa May 10, 1858. Capt. Gerard served three years in the regular army of the United States, and was under the command of Gen. John C. Fremont in his wonderful exploration of the Great American Desert, and also served three years in the late Civil War as First Lieutenant of Co.E, 37th Iowa Vol. Inf., and was commissioned Post-Quartermaster while stationed at Cincinnati, Ohio, and was breveted Captain when the regiment was mustered out at the expiration of its service. The Captain was a man of fine literary ability, a great reader, student and thinker, and always took an active part in the political campaigns of this county. Politically he was a Republican, and a leading and influential member in the Union League of this county. Beyond the office, of Justice of the Peace, which he held for several terms, he had no political ambition, and was always happy in the success of his party, its candidates and its measures. He died April 4, 1872, respected by all who knew him as an honorable and uptght citizen.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy