Gerry
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin Counties", published by Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1904.
HON. ROBERT GERRY is a
prominent and successful business man of central Washington. He is
handling a large mercantile establishment in Pasco, which is his home,
and also an extensive business in Kennewick, Yakima county. He carries
a large stock of general merchandise and does a thriving business.
In addition to this, Mr. Gerry owns about twenty-five hundred acres of
choice land in the Horse Heaven country, besides considerable other property.
He has gained his entire holding there through his own wise efforts and
is without doubt one of the leading business operators in these parts.
Robert Gerry was born in Ellsworth, Maine,
on January 9, 1858. His father, Robert Gerry, was a native of Massachusetts
and is still living, being retired from active business. He followed
lumbering during his life. At one time he was elected mayor of Ellsworth
on the Populistic ticket. It is said that he was the only one elected
on that ticket east of the Mississippi at that time. He also ran
on the same ticket for governor. The mother of our subject, Amanda
(Maddox) Gerry, is a native of Maine and still living. Robert received
a thorough business education, beginning in the public schools at Ellsworth,
Maine, and completing at Eastman's Commercial College, Poughkeepsie, New
York, graduating in 1878. Immediately subsequent to that, he went
to work for R. H. White & Company, a large retail dry goods establishment
in Boston, continuing with them for two years. Then he came to Walla
Walla, it being the spring of 1881, and was assistant postmaster in that
city for four years. After that, he returned east and spent a couple
of years during which time he served a term as alderman in the city of
Ellsworth. In 1888, Mr. Gerry came to Pasco and opened a general
merchandise establishment and since that has branched out as stated above
and has also secured much land and other property. In addition to
attending to his business affairs and making a fine success in the same,
Mr. Gerry has given considerable time to political affairs, always taking
a keen interest in the questions of the day. From 1891 to 1893 he
was treasurer of Franklin county and then was elected a representative
to the legislature for three successive terms his name always appearing
on the Democratic ticket. In the halls of the legislature he was
always a man of purpose and determination which enabled him to take up
and carry forward those measures which were for the best interests of his
party and his constituents. Fraternally, he is connected with the
K. of P.
In Yakima county, in 1893, Mr. Gerry married
Miss Mollie, the daughter of Jacob and Mary (Wright) Giezentanner.
Her parents are now living at Kiona, where the father is postmaster.
To Mr. and Mrs. Gerry, four children have been born, Lillian, Mary A.,
Robert and Walter. The son Robert is the fourth successive Robert
Gerry.
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