A tinner by trade, George Geiger, expanded his services after coming to Webb City

George W. Geiger was born Jan. 26, 1864 in Potter County, Penn, to John and Rachel (Yergey) Geiger.  He learned to be a tinner in Pottstown and Mahonoy, Penn.

A tinner is a person who makes and repairs various items that are made from tin such as candle holders, lamps and water pitchers. George roamed around the United States, working for many years as a tinner. He finally settled down in the booming town of Webb City in August of 1897. George married Julia McCool Hill, daughter of John and Mary McCool, of Springfield, Mo., in 1898.

George Geiger worked for Harrison and Lloyd upon arriving in Webb City and then went to work for A.V. Allen, of Joplin.

When work was slow in the tinning business, he would find work in the area mines, earning $1.25 a day. George saved his money and bought a tin shop in town and eventually added furniture and hardware to his store. George W. Geiger Hardware was located at 109 and 111 S. Allen (Main) St.

Julia Geiger died on July 25, 1912, and was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery. George later married Mary Matilda Million Enders in 1914.

Sadly, George died after a fall. On Dec. 13, 1926, he was riding in the back of his store’s truck when it rounded a corner and threw him off. He died three days later from his injuries on Dec. 16, 1926, in Webb City and is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery.

After his death, the store was sold to Dryden Reynolds, who later sold it to the Nelson Hardware Co.

Livingston’s 1912 “A History of Jasper County, Missouri and Its People” stated the following about George W. Geiger, “Some men are born to greatness, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.” Mr. Geiger belongs to the second class; he is an energetic, wide-awake businessman of Webb City, conscientious to a fault in all of his dealings and he has accumulated some valuable property, entirely through his own efforts.”