Orchard History: The Old Cottage House

William Geers was born in Belleview, St. Claire County, Illinois, May 10, 1855. He was the son of Thomas and Anna (Cobbert) Beers and died December 10, 1915. He lived in Illinois until 1876 when he moved with his parents to Saunders County in Nebraska.

William was united in marriage to Melvina Mable Eyer in Dixon, Illinois, October 8, 1862, daughter of Alfred and Mary Ann (deck) Eyer. She passed away March 30, 1932. William and Melvina are buried in Pleasant Valley Cemetery north of Orchard. At the time Melvina was married, her father Alfred Eyer was serving in the Civil War.

William and Melvina had twelve children, four of them died in infancy.

In 1882, they moved to the homestead northeast of where Orchard is now.

The community organized a school with William Geers being elected treasurer. The site was located on the southwest corner of his homestead and it was called Pleasant Valley, District #76. Their older children attended this school. Mrs. Geers was a charter member of the united brethren in Christ Church, organized in Pleasant Valley school house.

The Geers family moved to a farm in the Willow Community near Neligh for a few years and then moved back to the Orchard area.

William was a charter member of Workmen Lodge of Brunswick and also the I.  .O. F. Lodge of Royal which was later moved to Orchard. They both belonged to the Methodist Church and Rebekah Lodge.

William and Melvina Geers operated the Cottage house, a small hotel in Orchard. This was a place for people to room and board. They enjoyed a fine business and always set a good table and besides the regular boarders, traveling men raced from the train to get accommodations. Mr. Geers was known by all as “Billy Geers”. After a few years, the ill health of Geers, relocated them back to the farm in Pleasant Valley. Their son Clarence and wife Margaret ran the Cottage house which later was the home of Joe and Jennie George.

The Geers were community workers always ready to help anyone in need. Mrs. Geers was an excellent cook and did lots of hand work and sewing for herself and the family.
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After the death of Mr. Geers their son Harry continued farming and made a home for his mother as long as she lived.