GEIGEL, FRANK

GEIGEL, BUMGARTNER, NORDER, HEITZ

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 4/6/2004 at 09:49:20

Biography reproduced from page 531 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Frank Geigel who is now living retired in a handsome home in Algona, Iowa, which he owns, is also proprietor of a farm of ninety-five acres in the vicinity of Irvington, Iowa. He was born in Green county, Wisconsin, on the 25th of June, 1869, and is a son of Martin and Dorothy (Bumgartner) Geigel. The parents were both born in Switzerland, but in 1851 the father emigrated to the United States, locating in Madison, Wisconsin, where he was married. He subsequently removed to Green county and there he followed the stone mason’s trade and also engaged in farming. He is now living retired in Monroe, that county, at the age of ninety-one years, while the mother is eighty. During the period of his residence in Madison, Mr. Geigel was employed on some of the prominent buildings of the city, among them the state capitol. He was drafted for service in the Civil war, but as his presence at home with his family was absolutely imperative he hired a substitute. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Geigel, as follows: Mathias, who lives in Monroe, Wisconsin; Henry, a resident of Renwick, Iowa; Anna, the wife of Gustavus Norder, who lives near Juda, Wisconsin; Martin and Jacob, of Schultz, Wisconsin; Frank, our subject; John, who resides at Monticello, Wisconsin; Samuel, of Carbondale, Colorado; and Dora, the wife of John Heitz, of Monroe, Wisconsin.

Frank Geigel was reared in his native state, to whose schools he is indebted for his education. In common with all farmer lads he was early trained to the work of the fields and care of the stock, remaining at home until he was twenty-one. Upon leaving the parental roof he came to Humboldt county, Iowa. In 1893, he bought a farm in the vicinity of Renwick, this state, which he industriously cultivated for seventeen years. During that time he effected marvelous improvements in his place, putting on all the buildings and bringing the land under high cultivation. His holding embraced one hundred and sixty acres with a fine residence and large commodious barns and outbuildings. He disposed of it in 1910 and coming to Kossuth county, bought eighty acres near Irvington. Later he increased his acreage by the addition of a fifteen acre timber tract adjacent to his farm, and he still owns this property although he has retired from active work and now makes his home in Algona.

Mr. Geigel was married in 1892 to Miss Anna Bumgartner, who is also a native of Green county, Wisconsin, and to them have been born two children, Fred S. and Anna, both of whom are attending high school.

Mr. Geigel votes the republican ticket and while living in Humboldt county was road supervisor of his township. Both he and Mrs. Geigel hold membership in the Presbyterian church and number among its congregation many stanch friends.