Jacob Geiger

As printed in 1881

DR. JACOB GEIGER.

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 2d 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 loth of November of the same year, Mrs. Geiger died, and the subject of our sketch, with an older brother, came to St. Joseph. 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 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 successful 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 of 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.

As printed in The history of Buchanan County, Missouri (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.