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Below is a family biography included in The History of Moniteau County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  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.

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Joseph Geiser deserves honorable mention as one of the successful farmers and stockmen of Moniteau County, Mo. He was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in 1836, and there assisted his father and attended school until 1848, when he came with his father to Osage County, Mo., and was here reared to manhood. After attaining a suitable age he was engaged in milling, and in 1860 was married to Miss Almira Gilkey, whose father and mother were natives of Maine and Upper Canada, respectively, and were early settlers of Ohio. The father was a worthy tiller of the soil, and died in his adopted State. His widow came to Osage County, Mo., and died at the home of Mrs. Geiser in 1876. After the Rebellion had been in progress for some time Mr. Geiser left his mill and enlisted at Medora in Company K, Twenty-sixth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, for three years or during the war, and was mustered into service at Chamois, Mo., afterward participating in the battles of Iuka, Island No. 10, Corinth, second battle of Corinth, siege of Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Marietta. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and was honorably discharged at Savannah, Ga., in January, 1865. After returning home he bought a farm in Osage County, which he was engaged in tilling until 1871, when he moved to Gasconade County, and was occupied in general merchandising until 1880. He next took, up his abode in California, Mo., where he kept a livery stable for six months, then opened a saloon, which he conducted until 1883, at which date he sold out. In March, 1885, he purchased his present farm of eighty acres, a considerable portion of which he has succeeded in clearing, besides making other valuable improvements. He is not an active politician, but has voted the Democratic ticket for the past eight years. He was so reared, but after the war thought it his duty to support the Republican party, until resuming his former political views. While in Fredericksburg, Mo., he was postmaster of the town for four years. Mr. Geiser’s parents, John A. and Susanna (Buss) Geiser, were natives of Switzerland, the father being born in Berne. They were married in their native land, and about 1833 came to the United States, locating in Ohio, where the father purchased a small farm of forty acres and engaged in the pottery business, which occupation he followed until coming to Missouri in 1848. His wife died in Ohio in 1840. He entered land in Osage County, and erected the first grist mill in the county, which he managed until 1861, when he sold the mill and part of his land and moved to Warren County, Mo., and was a resident of Warrenton until his death, which occurred in 1871. He was conservative in politics.

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This family biography is one of 187 biographies included in The History of Moniteau County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Moniteau County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Moniteau County, Missouri family biographies here: Moniteau County, Missouri Biographies

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