Alverdo Adair Geitgey
(1864-1932)

Died aged c. 68

Alverdo Adair Geitgey was born in 1864 in Wayne County, Ohio, and made a fortune in the natural gas industry. Vacationing in North Florida during the winters, he invested in 12,700 acres of Baker County real estate and became the area’s first developer. Moving to Glen St. Mary in 1916, he laid out the town, naming its streets after U.S. presidents and some of the town’s agricultural products, such as oranges and pecans. His first real estate pamphlets lured buyers and promoted growth in the community. His contributions included a citrus grove and pecan farm. The Great Depression wiped out his land investments, and Alverdo Adair Geitgey died in 1932. The town recovered after the Depression.

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