Biographical Sketch of Judge Washington F. Geiger, Greene County, MO,
Springfield

>From "History of Greene County, Missouri," St. Louis: Western
Historical Company, 1883.

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This gentleman, the present judge of the twenty-first judicial district
of Missouri, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in June, 1836.  His
family ancestors on the paternal side came from Germany, and settled in
Pennsylvania at an early date.  His grandfather served in the Revolu-
tionary War, and his father, Henry Geiger, was a soldier in the War of
1812, and was afterward a thrifty farmer, living in his native State
until 1834, when he removed to the State of Ohio, where he died in 1860.
He was married in 1816, to Julian Ruebush, whose family were natives of
Virginia.  Washington F. Geiger received an English and classical edu-
cation in Urbana, Ohio.  He began the study of law in 1853, teaching
school at the same time.  He afterward continued his studies in the law
office of his brother, in Urbana; was admitted to the bar in 1858, in
Springfield, Ohio; practiced in Urbana one year, and removed to Steel-
ville, Crawford county, Missouri in 1859, where he practiced his pro-
fession until the outbreak of the civil war.  He then organized a comp-
any of infantry, which with others was organized into the Phelps Regi-
ment, United States volunteers.  Of this regiment he was commissioned
major, and on the second day of that hard fought battle of Pea Ridge,
was in command of the regiment, Col. Phelps being in command of the
brigade.  In this engagement the Phelps regiment suffered terribly,
more than one-half of the officers and enlisted men being either killed
or wounded, Major Geiger having his horse killed under him by a cannon
shot.  In 1862, he organized at Springfield, the 8th Missouri Cavalry,
United States volunteers, of which he was commissioned colonel, in June
of that year.  After the first six months he was put in command of the 
second brigade of the Army of the Frontier, and subsequently, for four
months commanded the 3rd division of the 7th army corps.  Thence to the
close of the war he commanded the 2nd brigade, cavalry division, 7th 
army corps.  Col. Geiger participated in the battles of Prairie Grove,
Clarendon, Brownsville, Little Rock, Bayou Metre, Prairie Long, also a
number of minor actions and skirmishes.  He retired from the army at
the close of the war, having given four years of honorable service to
his country, and leaving behind him a record without a stain.  In Sep-
tember, 1865, he was married to Henrietta C., daughter of Almaren Bodge,
Esq., of Portland, Maine, and located in Springfield, and at once re-
sumed the practice of his profession.  In 1868 he was elected circuit
attorney of the 14th judicial circuit.  In 1869 he was elected judge of
the 21st judicial circuit, which was formed from parts of the 13th and
14th judicial circuit.  In 1869 he was elected judge of the 21st judi-
cial circuit, which was formed from parts of the 13th and 14th circuits.
At the expiration of his first term, in 1874, he was re-elected, and
again in 1880, at present serving his third term, he being the only
judge who has presided over the courts of the 21st judicial circuit.
As a practitioner Judge Geiger was regarded as a safe counsellor, and
skilful in the management of his causes.  Upon the bench, added to his 
legal attainments, his manner of conducting proceedings, dispensing
even-handed justice without fear or favor, has won for him the esteem
and confidence of the entire bar in this circuit.  Politically he is a
Republican.

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