Biographical Sketch of Jacob H. GEIGER (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila- delphia, PA, 1893, pp. 823-4. "JACOB H. GEIGER, a leading contractor and builder at Parker Ford, and a man who has achieved financial success in the face of adverse circum- stances, is a son of Jonas and Elizabeth (Hatfield) Geiger, and was born May 1, 1829, in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. When he was two years old his father died, and the care of a family of six children fell on the mother. The family resided near Pottstown, and the father was a mason by trade, which occupation he followed until called away by death. In poli- tics he was a democrat, and married Elizabeth Hatfield, by whom he had three sons and three daughters. One of these daughters, Sarah, married Joshua Haldeman, who is now deceased, and she lives in the city of Phila- delphia. "Jacob H. Geiger was reared in his native county, where he early became accustomed to hard work, learning lessons of self-reliance and the neces- sity of careful management in the practical affairs of life. His educa- tional advantages were few, and nine months in the public schools formed the sum total of his scholastic training. He embraced every opportunity for improvement that came in his way, however, and in the practical school of life acquired that knowledge which has served him better, perhaps, than any mere study of text books would have done. In early manhood he learned the trade of carpenter, and has followed that occupation more or less all his life. He also does work in the line of contracting and building, and many specimens of his handiwork may be seen at and in the vicinity of Parker Ford, this county, where he has resided since 1856. His natural energy and business ability, inherited from a long line of industrious an- cestors, and quickened into new life by the necessities surrounding his early career, have led to financial success and placed him in independent circumstances. Politically Mr. Geiger is a democrat, and while avoiding the turmoil of practical politics is ever ready to do what he can to ad- vance the cause and principles of genuine democracy among the people. He is a member of the German Reformed church, as are all his family, and active in support of his denomination and its various interests. He is also a member of Manatou Lodge, No. 214, Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Pottstown. "Jacob H. Geiger was united in marriage with Sarah Yost, a daughter of John Yost, of Montgomery county, where he died. To Mr. and Mrs. Geiger was born a family of four children, two sons and two daughters: J. Huston, a carpen- ter by occupation, who lives in Chester county; Mary, married F. P. Huber, of Parker Ford, who is also a carpenter by trade; Harry, who wedded a Mrs. Shantz, nee Towers, and now lives with his father and manages the farm; and Sarah, who died at an early age."