Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 541-542; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
J. S. Geigley, M. D. Among the numerous and varied
professions in which men may arise to eminence, there is not one known
to the civilized world that claims a higher place in the esteem of all
than does the “art of healing.” Since the time of Esculapius,
down to the present date there has never been a class of men that
demanded or received more faith, or respectful treatment than the
physician. It is his presence that seems to brighten the sick
one; he is generally conceded to be the family friend, and it is to him
that troubles of every nature may be safely confided. No one has
more fully proven the truth of this assertion than has Dr. J. S.
Geigley.
Our subject’s birth occurred near Arrow Rock, Mo., on March 20,
1858, and he is the son of Seymour and Sarah (Warren) Geigley.
His father was a native of Virginia, being born near Winchester in that
State about the year 1820. The great-grandfather, Aaron Geigley,
was the found of this family, coming originally from Alsace-Lorraine,
France – now Prussia. His son, Aaron Jr., the grandfather of our
subject, was a planter, and a graduate of the Annapolis Naval
Academy. He was a Lieutenant in the United States Navy service
until the time when John C. Fremont led his famous expedition across
the country, and Lieut. Geigly become connected with the Survey.
He went in the field as a supporter of Gen. Fremont during the
campaign, being an intimate friend both of General and Mrs.
Fremont. At the breaking out of the war he was a planter and
miller in Saline County, Mo. At first he was neutral, but when
hostilities became fierce and some depredations were committed by Union
troops, his mind was immediately made up and he accepted a commission
as Colonel in the Confederate service. This was in the year
1862. His wife died in the spring, and while Col. Geigley was
away to place his children with their mother’s relatives in Indian, he
died on the way near Macomb, Ill. The three children were taken
charge of by kinspeople. Our subject is the only one of these
children living at the present date. He remained with his
mother’s brother near La Fayette, Ind., until he had attained his
twenty-first year, and received an academical education, and commenced
the study of medicine. After reaching his majority he attended
medical lectures at the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis,
graduating from there with honors in the spring of 1882.
Dr. Geigley about a week after receiving his degrees located in
Lewistown, the county seat of Fulton County, and continued to practice
there until the fall of 1885, at which time he removed to Canton.
He is one of the most popular practitioners in this city, having an
extensive and lucrative practice. He has succeeded admirably at
surgery and has performed several difficult and noted cures in this
vicinity. He is a member of the Brainward District Medical
Society, and was Vice President of same last year. The Doctor has
made special studies in electricity, believing in the appliance of this
fluid in general practice. He is corresponding member of the
Society of Electrical Engineers.
Our subject’s relatives, the Seymours, have been prominent
sailors through several generations, burnishing Admirals for the
British Navy during the Colonial period at and prior to the
Revolutionary War. His mother was a daughter of Lorenzo and Lucy
(Nevil) Warren. The Warren family are of English descent, and of old
Virginian ancestry, many of them being heroes in the Revolutionary War.
Dr. Geigley was married at Havana, Mason County, in 1878, to Miss Laura
Naylor, a native of Manchester, Ohio, and daughter of William and Nancy
(Coppell) Naylor. Their union has been blessed with two children
– Seymour Warren and Inez. Our subject is an Odd Fellow. He
also belongs to the Presbyterian Church, of which his wife was a member.
