Harry Howard Hollingsworth (Jeffrey) Geoffrey (1906 - 1935)

Born 19 Dec 1906 in Saint Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Fredericka (Mertens) Galloway — married 29 Dec 1930 (to 4 Dec 1935) in Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Died 4 Dec 1935 at age 28 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sandra Patton-Imani [send private message]

Biography

• Harry crossed over to the white world at 12 years old, and never spoke to his Black family again.

From the written memoir of Laura M. Jeffrey, Harry's younger (half) sister: "Still in Iowa, he (Arthur Jeffrey) met and married Dolly Bartlett (real name Iphigenia Aramenta). They had three children Harriet, born in 1898, Frances (died in infancy), and Harry, born in 1907. They later moved to Saint Paul. Dolly contracted tuberculosis and died when Harriet was about 14 in 1912.

Art married Sarah Smith in December 1913. Laura was born March 11, 1915 and Martha was born May 30, 1920. Harry lived with them until he was about 12 years old. Then Dolly's sister Elva Charbonneau brought suit, saying Harry was not Art's child and asking for custody. Art gave in because times were tough, but he insisted that Harry should keep the name Jeffrey. So Harry exited our lives.

He went to West Point and graduated. He was stationed at Fort Snelling for awhile where he played polo. He was transferred to Washington D.C. where he died in a plane crash in 1930. He was married and had at least one child. I never saw him after he went to live with Elva.

My most vivid memory of him son Armistice Day 1918 when he sat on top of the backyard fence and banged on a dishpan. One of the apple trees in the backyard at 366 Burgess St. Harry brought from school. Laura brought the other."

Wife and Child

In December 1930, he was married to Miss Mary Fredericka Mertens, of Washington, D.C. Their son, Frederick, was born in 1932.

Military

​1LT Harry Hollingsworth Geoffrey BIRTH 21 Dec 1906 Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, USA

Text from Website ^[1] "USMA Class of 1930. Cullum No. 8854. On December 29, 1930 as Harry H. Geoffrey, he married Mary Fredericka Mertens in the District of Columbia. On the 1920 census he is listed as H. Harry Jeffrey with his uncle, David Charboneau and aunt, Elva Bartlett Charboneau, the sister of his mother, Armintha Bartlett. He was admitted to West Point as Harry Howard Jeffrey, but his name was changed to Harry Hollingsworth Geoffrey.^[2]

​"Harry Hollingsworth Geoffrey, son of Harry Howard and Armintha Bartlett Geoffrey, was born December 19, 1906, at St. Paul, Minnesota. He attended the local schools and graduated from Central High School, St. Paul, in 1925. After graduation he joined the Third Infantry at Fort Snelling in order to take a competitive examination for the Military Academy, an examination which he passed with high honors.

"While a cadet he was literary editor of The Pointer, was manager of the Army fencing team and was Secretary and Treasurer of the Intercollegiate Fencing Association.

"He graduated from West Point in 1930 and was assigned to duty with the 18th Field Artillery, at Fort Snelling.

"In August 1932, he applied for Air Corps training and was sent to Randolph Field, Texas. After passing his Air Corps examination he was assigned to that branch of the service, promoted to First Lieutenant and sent to Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York."

Census

In 1910, the Jeffreys are living on East Fourteenth Street in St. Paul Ward 9, Ramsey, Minnesota, USA.^[3]

• Arthur H Jeffrey Age 44 (mulatto, married, born in MN, father born in MN, mother born in NY) occupation: carpenter
• Dollie Jeffrey Age 30 (white, married, born in Iowa, father born in NY, mother born in IL) mother of 3, two are still living.
• Herriett Jeffrey Age 12 (mulatto, female, single, born in Iowa, father born in MN, mother born in Iowa)
• Herry A Jeffrey Age 3 (mulatto, male, single, born in MN, father born in MN, mother born in Iowa)

In 1920, Harry is living with his aunt and uncle at 20 Fuller Street, in St Paul (Ward 8), Ramsey County, Minnesota.^[4]

• David Charboneau Age 28 (married, white, born in MN, parents born in MN) Occupation: printer
• S Eha Charboneau Age 28 (married, white, born in IA, father born in Maine, mother born PA) Saleslady at a retail grocery
• H Harry Jeffrey Age 13 (single, white, born in MN, father born in WI, mother born in SD). Attended School

In 1930, Harry Geoffrey (age 23, white, single) is a cadet at West Point, NY. His hometown is listed as Fort Snelling MN (where he was stationed before attending the academy). He reports that his father was born in England and his mother was born in Vermont.

Death

On December 4, 1935, he was with another officer, en route to Washington, D.C., from Mitchel Field, when their plane was caught by a gust of wind and swept into a hillside just as they were about to land. In this plane crash at Bolling Field he met his death.^[5]

DEATH 4 Dec 1935 (aged 28) Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, USA

BURIAL United States Military Academy Post Cemetery West Point, Orange County, New York, USA PLOT Section VI, Row B, Site 93.

Sources

written memories of his half-sister Laura Marie Jeffrey

1. ↑ Mitchel Field, https://mitchelfield.weebly.com/crashes-30s.html
2. ↑ Sixty-Eighth Annual Report of the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York June 11, 1937, The Moore Printing Company Inc., Newburgh, New York.
3. ↑ 1910 United States Federal Census,
4. ↑ Year: 1920; Census Place: St Paul Ward 8, Ramsey, Minnesota; Roll: T625_855; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 94
5. ↑ Mitchel Field, https://mitchelfield.weebly.com/crashes-30s.html