Biographical Sketch of Dr. Jacob Geiger, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, MO

>From "History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881, St. Joseph
Steam Printing Company, Printers, Binders, Etc., St. Joseph, Missouri.
**********************************************************************

Jacob Geiger was born in Obernarie Province of Wurtemberg, Germany,
July 25, 1848, and is the son of Anton and Mary Geiger, both natives
of the same place.  His father died May 2, 1851, leaving a widow and
five children, of which the subject of our sketch is the youngest.
In 1857, in company with his mother, his sister and her husband and
brother, he emigrated to America, and on the 2nd of May of that year
landed at New York.  They first settled in Champaign County, Illinois.
During his stay in Illinois, Jacob attended the country schools, and
soon learned the English language perfectly.  In 1858, they removed
to Brown County, Kansas, where they purchased a farm.  On the 10th of
November of the same year, Mrs. Geiger died, and the subject of our
sketch, with an older brother, came to St. Joseph, Missouri.  In 1860,
his brother and family having returned to Illinois, Jacob followed
them, and during the summer months assisted his brother in order that
he might go to the Homer Seminary in the winter.  In 1865, he returned
to St. Joseph, where he took a course in Bryant's Business College.
While pursuing his studies he became acquainted with Dr. Bishop.  At
this time Mr. Geiger had a very delicate operation performed on his
foot by Dr. Bishop, requiring much time and the greatest of skill.
This required him to be away from his studies much of the time, and
after a year's continuance at the college he left and entered his 
brother's store.  He early formed a desire to study medicine, and soon
commenced the study with Dr. Bishop as preceptor, but being unable,
both financially and physically, to devote his entire time to that
study, he entered the drug store of Penick & Loving, where he remained
nine months.  During this time he did not cease his study of medicine,
his only opportunity being the latter part of the evening, two o'clock
in the morning often finding him at his books.  After leaving the drug
store, he resumed reading with Dr. Bishop, and at the same time getting
considerable practice.  He had by this time accumulated sufficient 
means to enable him to attend lectures at the Medical University at
Louisville, Kentucky, where he went in 1871.  Here he passed a success-
ful examination and received a diploma.  He then returned to St. Joseph
and opened an office, and has succeeded in building up a large, 
successful and profitable practice.  In the fall of 1879, the College
of Physicians and Surgeons was organized, and Dr. Geiger was chosen to
fill the chair of Professor of the Principle and Practice of Surgery
and Clinical Surgery, which he still holds.  The Doctor possesses a 
talent for surgery, and has turned his attention almost exclusively to
that branch.  He has performed nearly all the major operations in 
surgery, and the profession and people are a unit in giving to him the
honor of being the leading surgeon in the Northwest.  He has figured
prominently in all of the medical organizations of the state; was one
of the founders, and, for five years, the Secretary of the District
Medical Society of Northwest Missouri; was Vice President of the State
Medical Society of Missouri, and Secretary of the St. Joseph Medical
Society, and is a member of the American Medical Association.  The
doctor has been very successful, and has accumulated a large amount
of city property, and has an elegant residence and office.  Dr. Geiger
has been favored in obtaining everything to make life happy, with the
exception of a wife, he being yet unmarried.

====================================================================
     USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing
         free information on the Internet, data may be used by
         non-commercial entities, as long as this message
         remains on all copied material. These electronic
         pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit
         or for presentation by other persons or organizations.

         Persons or organizations desiring to use this material
         for purposes other than stated above must obtain the
         written consent of the file contributor.

         This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
         Archives by: Penny Harrell <Incog3678@aol.com>

====================================================================