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From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin, Publ. 1901- page 354
OTTO F. GEIGER is a leading representative of the business interests of Cassville, Grant county, being a member of the well-known firm of KLINDT, GEIGER & Co., general merchants of that place. Of excellent business ability and broad resources, he has attained a prominent place among the substantial citizens of his county, and has won success by his well directed, energetic efforts.
Mr. GEIGER was born in Cassville, April 3, 1859, a son of John and Christina (NICHOLAS) GEIGER. The father was a native of Germany, and came to this country as a political refugee in 1833. Landing in New York, he remained in that city, working in a cigar factory for a time, and then went to Kaskaskia, Ill., where he engaged in mercantile business until coming to Cassville, Wis., in 1848. Here he embarked in business as a member of the firm of RAFFAUF & GEIGER, and the old frame building in which they conducted their store is still standing near the present place of business of the firm of KLINDT, GEIGER & Co., having been moved to give place to the brick building erected in 1860. The firm carried on business as general merchants and grain dealers until that year, when Peter RAFFAUF returned to Germany, and Mr. GEIGER became the sole proprietor of the store, buying his partner's interest. Under the name of John GEIGER he engaged in business until his death, which occurred in December, 1873. The following year John A. KLINDT purchased the property, and was alone in business until March, 1878, when the firm of KLINDT, GEIGER & Co. was established. In 1883, in addition to their extensive mercantile business, they erected a creamery at Cassville, which they erected a creamery at Cassville, which they have since conducted with marked success.
Mr. GEIGER's mother died in Cassville in 1860. Otto F. is the youngest of her three children, the other being Mary, wife of Robert HUFSCHMIDT, of Lansing, Iowa; and Gustave J., who was a partner in the business until his death, in January, 1880. The father was again married, in Cassville, his second union being with Miss Josephine SCHOLZ, also a native of Germany. To this marriage have been born six children, namely: Wilhelmina, wife of Frank JUNKERMANN, of Clinton, Iowa; John E., a farmer of Thorp, Wis.; Joseph F., a resident of Cassville; F. A., an attorney of Milwaukee; Henry E., teller in a bank at Madison, Wis.; and Pauline A., of Cassville.
Reared in Cassville, Otto F. GEIGER attended the public schools, and later entered the state University, at Madison, where he pursued his studies for two years. He then began his business career as a member of the firm of KLINDT, GEIGER & Co., with which he is still connected. It is the oldest business house in Cassville, and has the best and most extensive trade of any in this section of the State. Mr. GEIGER is an energetic, enterprising businessman, of known reliability, and the success that has come to him is certainly well merited. Beside his village property he owns an interest in farming land. In his political views he is a Democrat, but an advocate of sound money, and gives his support to every enterprise which he believes calculated to prove of public benefit.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck