Born in London, England, while his parents were there on vacation; they were natives of Wigtownshire, Scotland. As a young man, he assisted his father on the prosperous family farm, which gave him experience in the buying and shipping of grain, which led to a successful career when Milwaukee became a world leader in the grain trade. In 1862, he formed a partnership with Nelson VanKirk; they subsequently built the largest pork processing business in Wisconsin. He became one of the most influential and prominent figures in the commission business, a leading member of the Chamber of Commerce, and the Chicago Board of Trade. Alex Mitchell would visit the vast McGeoch estate on National Avenue, across from Soldiers Home. He owned 160 or 170 acres of land on Lincoln Avenue, 17 acres on National Avenue where he lived for 28 years in the mansion he had built. He owned a half interest in Soldiers Home Heights, and had one of the finest farms at Lake Mills, Wisconsin. He married Catherine Helen Harvey, and they had five children: Eda, Alma, Clara, Katherine and Arthur. Mrs. McGeoch died the day after her fiftieth birthday. He remarried to Mrs. Libbey of Chicago, but that marriage ended in divorce. At that time, he had completed the construction of a commercial building, which still stands at the northwest corner of Michigan and Milwaukee Streets in Milwaukee (2005.) The building was not immediately attracting tenants, and though still wealthy, the combination of health, business and personal problems led to his tragic death. He suffered from diabetes, violent headaches, and his hearing was so bad he could not enter into a conversation, as he could not hear what people around him were saying and this made him suspicious. He committed suicide at his home. His son, Arthur Nye McGeoch, an attorney, took over his business interests, and through subsequent business dealings, the great McGeoch estate became the CITY of WEST ALLIS, WI. He left two letters, one for his son, and the other for his brother, John McGeoch. The contents of these letters have never been divulged to the public.
Born in London, England, while his parents were there on vacation; they were natives of Wigtownshire, Scotland. As a young man, he assisted his father on the prosperous family farm, which gave him experience in the buying and shipping of grain, which led to a successful career when Milwaukee became a world leader in the grain trade. In 1862, he formed a partnership with Nelson VanKirk; they subsequently built the largest pork processing business in Wisconsin. He became one of the most influential and prominent figures in the commission business, a leading member of the Chamber of Commerce, and the Chicago Board of Trade. Alex Mitchell would visit the vast McGeoch estate on National Avenue, across from Soldiers Home. He owned 160 or 170 acres of land on Lincoln Avenue, 17 acres on National Avenue where he lived for 28 years in the mansion he had built. He owned a half interest in Soldiers Home Heights, and had one of the finest farms at Lake Mills, Wisconsin. He married Catherine Helen Harvey, and they had five children: Eda, Alma, Clara, Katherine and Arthur. Mrs. McGeoch died the day after her fiftieth birthday. He remarried to Mrs. Libbey of Chicago, but that marriage ended in divorce. At that time, he had completed the construction of a commercial building, which still stands at the northwest corner of Michigan and Milwaukee Streets in Milwaukee (2005.) The building was not immediately attracting tenants, and though still wealthy, the combination of health, business and personal problems led to his tragic death. He suffered from diabetes, violent headaches, and his hearing was so bad he could not enter into a conversation, as he could not hear what people around him were saying and this made him suspicious. He committed suicide at his home. His son, Arthur Nye McGeoch, an attorney, took over his business interests, and through subsequent business dealings, the great McGeoch estate became the CITY of WEST ALLIS, WI. He left two letters, one for his son, and the other for his brother, John McGeoch. The contents of these letters have never been divulged to the public.
Family Members
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