My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Yell County, Arkansas published by Southern Publishing Company in 1891.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Noah A. Geiger, farmer, Danville, Ark. Mr. Geiger, one of the representative farmers of the county and a man respected and esteemed for his many good qualities, was born in Alabama on December 19, 1837 (Dallas County), and is the son of Abraham Geiger. He came with his parents to Fayette County, Miss., when three years of age, and there he was reared to the arduous duties of the farm. In the fall of 1857, or when twenty-one years of age, he, in company with others, came to and settled in Yell County, Ark. He entered 160 acres of land in the Dutch Creek Valley and there remained, improving the same until the breaking out of the war. About that time he sold his farm and bought 160 acres on the south side of the creek, about two miles from his former home, and there he still resides. He improved sixty-five acres of land, erected a good frame house and a large, commodious barn, but these, however, were destroyed by a storm of wind in 1885. Since then he has rebuilt and has a fine place. His principal crops are corn and cotton. In 1861 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Axley who died in 1864, leaving one child, a little son, who survived his mother only about two months. Soon after this Mr. Geiger was prostrated with fever and was unable to attend to his work or any business for five months. In 1866 he was again married, to Mrs. Elizabeth Lee, who died in November, 1877, leaving two children, both sons. During her lifetime Mr. Geiger was engaged in the milling business and in the fall of 1866 he erected a cotton-gin and corn-mill which was run by horse-power. This was the first gin or mill erected in that valley after the war. This he operated two seasons and then enlarged his mill, putting in a small engine and added a saw-mill. Two years later, finding that this did not supply the demands of the country, he sold out his machinery and bought a large engine and enlarged his business by adding a flouring-mill. The venture was a paying one and a good source of revenue. After the death of his wife in 1877 he sold out the property and devoted his attention entirely to his family and his farm. He has now one of the finest and most productive tracts of land in the valley and a vast amount of valuable timber, consisting principally of the different varieties of oak, interspersed, however, with walnut. Some of the finest wagon timber in the world is found in this vicinity. Staves have been made by the settlers and shipped in large quantities down the river to Little Rock. On December 3, 1878, Mr. Geiger was married to Miss Willie Dewitt, daughter of James Dewitt, of this county. Three years later, November 5, 1881, fire broke out in the dwelling-house and everything was destroyed, the loss being about $1,500. The same fall Mr. Geiger began making preparations for building another house, which was completed and ready for occupancy in the fall of 1882. Mr. Geiger now has a comfortable house, which he has insured for $1,000, and which is the best in the neighborhood. He was the first man to bring a cooking stove in the valley. This was an old-fashioned Step stove No. 8 and cost $35, besides having to be freighted thirty miles across the country, across the river through an almost trackless wilderness. Mr. Geiger has never been an active politician, but he has voted the Republican ticket since the war. He is not connected with any church, but is a truly good man and is living a Christian life. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. at Dutch Creek. To his last marriage were born two daughters, one of whom died at the age of six years. He now has three living children: Jesse A. (born August 18, 1867), Elbert M. (born February 14, 1871, and the husband of Elizabeth Ivey), and Myrtle (born January 22, 1888). Jesse, the eldest, lives with his father and has bought and operates the mill property formerly owned by his father. Elbert works a part of his father’s farm, Mr. Geiger is a strictly temperate man and is opposed to the sale of liquor in his county. He is public-spirited and a liberal contributor to all worthy enterprises. He is a remarkably peaceful gentleman, never had a case in court, and is noted for his honesty, sobriety and his desire to do as he would wish to be done by in dealing with his fellow-men. He is highly respected and is one of the best citizens.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 124 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Yell County, Arkansas published in 1891.  For the complete description, click here: Yell County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Yell County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.