Hans Jacob Geiger

Hans Jacob Geiger

ID:	I108
Last:	Geiger
First:	Hans
Middle:	Jacob
Birth:	Jul 1679 at Switzerland ¹
Death:	AFT 1736 at South Carolina
Burial:
Sex:	M
Notes:	Per family lore: "Arrived Charleston Feb 1, 1737 was Governor of Zurich Switzerland". GEIGER family researcher Harriet Imrey has generously shared her extensive work online. See these resources for updates on her research: - Rootsweb.com Geiger-L Archives (http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/GEIGER...) - South Carolina Information Highway: Women in the Revolution in South Carolina: Emily Geiger Outline (http://sciway3.net/clark/revolutionarywar/geigerfambrooker.html - - and associated pages) Inrey's research confirms: - Hans Jacob Geiger was a former governor of St. Gall canton in Switzerland - Hans Jacob Geiger arrived in America with: - - wife (Margareta Feerin) - - son Herman Geiger (1707-1751), married with family - - dau Elizabeth Geiger Schellig, married with family - - 2 sons, unmarried - - 3 dau's, unmarried In 1742, Hans Jacob Geiger (John Jacob Geiger) received a land grant of 350 acres.
Sources:	²

Mother:	UNKNOWN
Father:	UNKNOWN

Marriage 1	Margareta Feerin b: 1664 d: AFT 1736
	Wedding: UNKNOWN

	Children:
	1 Herman Geiger b: 18 Dec 1707 Diepoldsau, Rheinthal, Switzerland

Sources:
1	Title: The State newspaper (daily) Publication: The State-Record Co., P.O. Box 1333, Columbia, SC 29202 (publ. at: 1401 Shop Rd., Columbia, SC, 29201) Page: p. 12-A Text: A granite marker... at the Geiger (formerly Tyler Field) Cemetery. This historic spot is near the line between Calhoun and Lexington counties, on the Calhoun side, a quarter of a mile west of U.S. Highway 176 on a county road half-way between Geiger's store and the county line. The marker will bear this record taken from the Zurich Switzerland, State Archives: "Under the Village of Wydnau Family No. 15, is entered: The following moved to Carolina in Sept. 1736. Hans Jacob Gyger former Cantonal Governor, born July 1679, "Whom one could not sufficiently honor"...

2	Title: The State newspaper (daily) Publication: The State-Record Co., P.O. Box 1333, Columbia, SC 29202 (publ. at: 1401 Shop Rd., Columbia, SC, 29201) Date: 13 Apr 1958 Page: p. 12-A Text: [Cain, Mrs. L.M. The State: 13 Apr 1958, p.12-a,] A granite marker to Herman Geiger, a pioneer citizen of the Congaree area, is to be dedicated at 3:30 p.m. May 11 [1958] at the Geiger (formerly Tyler Field) Cemetery. This historic spot is near the line between Calhoun and Lexington counties, on the Calhoun side, a quarter of a mile west of U.S. Highway 176 on a county road half-way between Geiger's store and the county line. The marker will bear this record taken from the Zurich Switzerland, State Archives: "Under the Village of Wydnau Family No. 15, is entered: The following moved to Carolina in Sept. 1736. Hans Jacob Gyger former Cantonal Governor, born July 1679, "Whom one could not sufficiently honor" Margareta Feerin, his wife, born 1664; Children: Catherina b. 15 Nov. 1711 Hans Heinrich, b. 12 Aug. 1713 Maria Barbara, born 24 Feb. 1715 Hans Jacob, born 24 Apr. 1718 Margareta, born 26 Apr. 1724 Married son; Herman Geiger, born 18 Dec. 1707, married 26 Feb. 1734, Elizabeth Habluzel, born 25 Dec. 1711. Children Catherina, born 1734 Hans Conrad, born 1736." The Geiger's (Gygers) arrived in Charleston, Feb. 1, 1737, and settled in the Congarees. Herman Geiger became an Indian Trader, and gave assistance when needed to the governor of the colony in meetings with the Indians. He died in 1751, just how and where is not known. His trade with the Indians over wild country, carried him through many perilous adventures as did the trading of other pioneers. The history of this little cemetery is best told by Mrs. W.W. Hawes (Daisy Geiger) to whose parents and descendants the cemetery was deeded in 1917. Tyler Field Cemetery (Since Changed to Geiger Cemetery). "This little cemetery is in three adjoining enclosures. The oldest is of brick. It contains the graves of John Geiger (a soldier of the American Revolution) and his wife, Ann Murph. Also two Baughman children and some other graves that are not marked. "The next section is an iron fence. It contains the graves of Abraham Geiger and his wife, Dorothy Kinsler, Henry Jacob Geiger, and two of his children, Harriet and George. The third enclosure is a wire fence which was put up by my mother, Texas M. Geiger, and contains the graves of John Abraham Geiger and two infants. Numerous family connections are known to be buried here but all of the graves that are marked are of the Geiger name, save two. In some instances, a sink in the ground is the only evidence, a few have the little wooden markers. "The two referred to are Dr. J. L. Reid, b. Feb. 1, 1828, died July 31, 1857; Emily J., wife of Dr. J. L. Reid and daughter of William and Epps Threewits Geiger, born Sep. 13, 1836, died Jan. 16, 1894. "This is the oldest Geiger burying ground that we know anything about." There is a title or transfer of land in possession of Mrs. A.R. Taylor from John Tyler to Herman Geiger dated 1805. Hence the name, Tyler Field." The land is described as being on Savannah Hunt Creek. This Herman Geiger, was the nephew of John Geiger. People then had very large acreage and were not particular about their land lines. It is said that when these lines were surveyed, John Geiger found that his barn was on the Tyler land. This spot marks the home of John Geiger, and his wife, Ann Murph, and was called "The Manor." Old trees yet stand that make it look like an old home place. As it was the custom to bury the dead near the old home, they did that. The oldest tombs are . . . . of John Geiger and his wife, Ann Murph. They are of the box design, and there is also an upright slab, material used is marble. "In Memory of John Geiger who was born Jan. 8, 1748, died Sept. 18, 1817. Aged 69 years." "In Memory of Mrs. Ann Geiger, who was born Apr. 15, 1742, died July 10th 1831, aged 89 years." Five generations of Geigers have lived near this cemetery. John Geiger, John R. Geiger, Godfrey Geiger, John A. Geiger, and the present resident is John H. Geiger. John Geiger willed the property to his son, Herman Geiger, who in turn willed to his son, John R. Geiger, whose widow sold it to Mr. Jacob Wolfe. In 1853, Henry Geiger bought it from the Wolfe estate. The John R. Geiger home was to the north and about a quarter of a mile away. The Godfrey Geiger home was to the southwest and close to Savannah Hunt Creek, on a pretty flat hill top. This was burned by Yankees. Sometime after the title date 1853, the body of Abraham Geiger was moved from his Platt Springs place to Tyler Field. He was prominent in politics, when Granby flourished, later he became interested in educational matters, moved to Platt Springs and established Platt Springs Academy. (Mill Statistics 1826 commends it highly.) Abraham Geiger was a soldier in the War of 1812-14, author and agriculturist. The last Geiger to own the particular cemetery tract was Artemas Geiger who sold it to Mr. Will of North. Before selling A.G. Geiger had one and one half acres surveyed out, staked and recorded at St. Matthews Court House, that Tyler (Geiger) Cemetery might be preserved as an old land mark and family connections feel free to continue the use of it. The title was made to descendants of my parents, John A. and Texas M. Geiger and near relatives of the Geiger family and delivered to my mother, Texas M. Geiger. It is now in possession of her son, John H. Geiger, dated Oct. 12, 1917." (Mrs Albert Rhett Taylor of Columbia, formerly Virginia Lee Geiger, sister of Artemas G. Geiger above, conceived the idea of joining him in preserving this historical spot by placing a marker, commemorating the part in history of their forefathers. This idea struck an answering chord in the hearts of other descendants who felt as she did, and those who wished were given the privilege of sharing in it. L. M. Cain) "The old stage coach road passed about halfway between the cemetery and the paved highway. A line of confederate Breastworks begins a short distance east of the old road and extends westward close to the cemetery where it crosses a settlement road and curves towards the southeast. It is heavily overgrown with vines and trees, in places it is very distinct, being about two and a half feet high. In others it is almost obliterated. The tombs of Abraham and Dorothy Geiger were broken down into small pieces by the Yankees. Alexander Geiger gathered these pieces and piled thenm on each grave and had new upright tombs placed."