June 30, 1899; Oregonian, p 8

At her home, 1214 East Salmon street, Mrs. Mary Geer Short, a pioneer of 1847, one of the founders of the first pioneer association of Oregon, and an aunt of Governor T. T. Geer, died Wednesday afternoon, after an illness which began November 22, 1898, with a stroke of paralysis.

She was born in Madison county, Ohio, May 10, 1830. At the age of 10 years she moved with her parents to Knox county, Illinois, where she remained till the spring of 1847, at which time she started with her parents for Oregon. The family settled near Butteville in October of the same year. She was married to Robert V. Short the 19th day of February, 1848, and settled on a donation land claim four miles below Butteville, then in Yamhill county, but which later became a part of Clackamas county. Here she remained 40 years. In 1880 she moved to Portland with her husband and family, who made their home at Sunnyside, where she died. She was one of the founders of the first pioneer association of Oregon, which convened at Butteville, Marion county, 27 years ago, and was also a demitted member of Tualatin grange, No. 111, of Clackamas county. In these lines she was a valuable worker, and was prominent in all that she undertook. In 1857 she became a member of the United Brethren church, but afterwards withdrew and joined the Spiritual faith, in which belief she became settled and content the remainder of her life. She leaves a husband and six children. The latter are:

Mrs. Alvina Love, Portland; Captain W. P. Short, Arrowhead, B. C.; Captain S. V. Short, Portland; Mrs. Lillie Jolly, San Francisco; Mrs. Lettie Tooze, Wilsonville, Or.; Mrs. Evangeline Shaw, Sunnyside.

Governor T. T. Geer is a nephew of the deceased. Homer Davenport, the well known artist, is a grand-nephew. The funeral will take place this afternoon at 2:30 from her late home, on East Salmon street, and the remains will be buried in Multnomah cemetery.