Geddes made his fortune in Chicago in the US in the trading of grain in the 1850s, and a safe belonging to him which survived the Great Fire of Chicago was installed in the house's Billiard Room.
Geddes fixo a súa fortuna en Chicago nos EEUU no comercio de grans en 1850s, e unha caixa forte que sobreviviu ao Gran Lume de Chicago foi instalada na sala de billar da súa casa.