A. C. T. Geiger, a prominent attorney of Oberlin, Kan., and a well known public speaker and orator, was born in Cedar county, Iowa, January 19, 1858, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Lichtenwaltey) Geiger, the former a native of Germany, who came to America with his parents when eight years old. Jacob Geiger was an educated man, having attended college at Marietta, Ohio, and at one time was a candidate for Congress of the Second Iowa district, in which he lived. He was a farmer. His wife, and mother of our subject, was a native of Maryland, of German and English descent.

The subject of this sketch was raised on his father's farm, where he helped with the work and attended the country schools. After finishing the common school course he attended school at Carthage, Ill., taking the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1882, and received his Master of Arts degree in 1885 on his record as a student and by reason of having taken up law. While in college he won the junior oratorical contest and received a medal. His father owned several farms and wanted the boy to remain at home, but as he was determined to learn a profession he went to college. His father soon had reason to be very proud of him and wanted him to finish. After leaving college he returned to Cedar county, Iowa, and taught school, at the same time reading law from books loaned him by his brother, who was practicing that profession at the time. Two of his three brothers are lawyers.

In 1885, Mr. Geiger was admitted to the bar of Iowa at Tipton, in that State, Judge Hedges presiding on the bench. After working for a few months in his brother's office at Tipton he started west, in January, 1886, and located at Oberlin, Kan., February 25 of that year, where he began the practice of his profession. In the fall of 1886 he was elected county attorney and served two years, after which he practiced law for about eighteen months, when he was appointed county attorney by the district judge, and in the fall was elected without opposition. He was reëlected, but did not complete his term, resigning within one year after his second election to become district judge, to which office he was elected in 1893, and served eight years. The biennial election law was then introduced and for one year he was not on the bench, but after that time he was elected again and served one term of four years. He was judge at the time of the most celebrated case ever tried in Kansas, that of the State vs. Dewey, which lasted for seven weeks, and there has never been any adverse criticism on his judicial management of that case. The Ellen Lunney murder trial, which lasted one week, was also tried before him. After leaving the bench he resumed the practice of law in Oberlin and has continued ever since. Mr. Geiger is retained as attorney by several large corporations. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Masons in all branches, and is a Pregressive Republican.

Mr. Geiger was married November 2, 1887, to Frances P. Hopp, daughter of Adam and Louise C. Hopp, both of German descent, of Carthage, Ill., where Mr. Hopp was engaged in the leather business. Here Mrs. Geiger was raised and attended the public schools and the Carthage College, where she and Mr. Geiger were classmates, graduating together. They had five children: Marie L., now the wife of D. C. Watkins, of Ellis, Kan.; Elizabeth V., now located in Madison, Neb.; Carl E., a senior in the high school at Oberlin; Eunice F. and Willard T. attending the Oberlin High School. Mr. Geiger's first wife died August 15, 1900. Mr. Geiger was married the second time on November 9, 1901, to Miss M. R. Borin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Borin, of Stockton, Kan., where she was born and raised. Mr. Borin was for a number of years instructor in the State Reform School at Pontiac, Ill., and later was in the implement business. He is now farming. Mrs. Geiger was educated in the schools of Stockton and in the Stockton Academy. They have one child, Robert A. Geiger.

When Lwellyn was running for governor Mr. Geiger campaigned in his behalf, making speeches, and for some time relieved him in his speaking. Our subject is a well known speaker and orator of note.