Hezekiah R. Geiger

As printed in 1908

HEZEKIAII R. GEIGER, Ph. D., I). 1) was one of the founders of Wittenberg College, at Springfield, a member of its first faculty, ami for many years he was recognized not only as a power in the Lutheran Church, but as one of the leading men of literary and scientific attainment in Ohio.

Dr. Geiger was born January 10, 1820, at Greencastle, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Henry and Julia (Rheubush) Geiger. Charles Geiger, the paternal grandfather of Dr. Geiger, was born in Germany and became a resident of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in 1772. He served, from Philadelphia, in the Revolutionary War.

Henry Geiger, father of Dr. Geiger, was born in 1789, in Montgomery County, where he resided until the War of 1812, when he joined General Scott's division, and participated in the battles of Chippewa Plains and Lundy's Lane. He was with Commodore Perry on Lake Erie, being aboard one of the ships which anchored at Put-in-Bay, and assisted in burying the dead whose dust lies there. After an honorable discharge, Henry- Geiger settled in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1833, when lie removed with his family to Columbiana County, Ohio. In 1834 he migrated to Holmes County, and in 1851 to Champaign County. He died at the home of his* son in Springfield, in 1861.

In 1815 Henry Geiger married Julia Rheubush, who was born and reared at Hagerstown, Maryland, and died in Champaign County, August 31. 1854. They had twelve children, eleven of whom were sons. Seven of the latter became eminent in professional life, the last survivor of these being Rev. Andrew Geiger, who died on Palm Sunday, 1905, at Kansas City, Missouri.

Dr. Hezekiah R. Geiger accompanied his parents to Ohio but completed his collegiate course in the Pennsylvania College, in 1846. After coming to Springfield, he became associated with Rev. Ezra Keller, D. D., and Michael Diehl, and they founded that institution of learning, Wittenberg College, which has since been an important adjunct of the Lutheran Church. He filled the chairs of Latin, natural science and mathematics in the new college during its earlier years, but subsequently confined his instruction to natural science alone, and from 1873 until his death, which occurred July 18, 1899, he remained interested in scientific investigations. In 1882 he resigned his position as a member of the faculty at Wittenberg College, so as to have more time in which to pursue his favorite work. In 1874 he had visited the Pacific coast and the Sandwich Islands, as a scientist, and after accepting a iwsition on the United States Geological Survey, in charge of the Blue Ridge Division, in 1883, he pursued his investigations through Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia, and through his careful, painstaking, thorough work, prepared data which have been the basis for subsequent geological work in these regions. He made many important literary contributions to the secular, as well as religious press and ably edited the Luthrran Evangelist for a protracted period.

Dr. Geiger was married December 14, 1854, to Nancy Melvina Hartford, who was born in West Virginia, and who died September 30, 1900. She was a lady of high mental attainments and was well qualified to he the companion of her learned husband. They had seven children, namely: Alice MM who was the first woman graduated at Wittenberg College, completing the course in 1879; Charles A., who is manager of the Troy Wagon Works, at Troy, Ohio; Lizzie G., whose husband, A. I). Hosternian, is president and general manager of the Poultry Success Company and also conducts an insurance business at Room 39, on the northwest corner of Main and Limestone Streets, residing at No. 312 Woodlawn Avenue; Anna L., who is the wife of J. N. Garver, who is engaged in a real estate business at Springfield, residing at No. 2(H) FernclifF avenue; Harry M., residing at Canton, Ohio; Ella L., who occupies the old family home, with her sister Alice, which was built in 1853 by their father, at No. 3 Ferncliff Avenue; and Hon. Frank W., who is serving in his second term as probate judge of Clark County.

While Dr. Geiger accepted no political office, he served on many civic and educational boards. Education, charity, religion, all found a place in his heart and life.

As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.