Terms of Service

• House, 17th ^{(1) (2) (5) (8)} Legislature
  4/6/1882 - 1/9/1883
  Greenback
  
• House, 16th ^{(3) (4) (6) (7)} Legislature
  1/14/1879 - 1/11/1881
  Republican
  

(1) Geiger attended the Greenback convention at Corsicana, September 1, 1882. He "told of his old service in the Republican ranks; of his prosecution in the Federal Court at Waco by some of his Republican friends," p. 2, 9/6/1882. Galveston Daily News .
(2) Newly elected members were sworn on April 6, 1882, including: "Owen Brown, Hal Geiger, Seth Stewart and T. P. Rodrigues [sic]." "Special session of the Seventeenth Legislature," p. 1, 4/7/1882. Galveston Daily News .
(3) Republican, 1/14/1879, p. 1. Galveston Daily News .
(4) States Geiger was a Republican candidate endorsed by the Greenback party. Handbook of Texas Online .
(5) Harriel G. Geiger, in special election 9/17/1881, sworn 4/6/1882, succeeded E.C. Mobley, notice of removal from district received 8/3/1881. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004 2005.
(6) Republican. Texas Legislative Manual, 1879-80 1879.
(7) "The campaign efforts of Hal Geiger and Robert J. Evans also resulted in a Greenback victory for themselves," p. 129. Through Many Dangers, Toils, and Snares: Black Leadership in Texas, 1868-1898 2016.
(8) "The leadership of the Republican Party decided not to fuse with the Greenbackers in 1880, but rather placed a ticket in the field. . . Among the few blacks who remained visible in the Greenback fold [in 1880] were Hal Geiger and Robert A. Kerr," p. 129. Through Many Dangers, Toils, and Snares: Black Leadership in Texas, 1868-1898 2016.

Biographical Notes and Resources

Resolutions and Journal entries

• 79th Legislature, R.S., HR 589, paying tribute to African American legislators and constitutional convention delegates of 1868-1900. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
• 81st Legislature, R.S., HCR 81, paying tribute to African American legislators and constitutional convention delegates. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
• 85th Legislature, R.S., HR 452, celebrating Black History Month and honoring the leadership and vision of African American lawmakers. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .

Other Resources

• Census of 1880 - H.G. Geiger, Calvert, Robertson County, age 40, born circa 1840 in South Carolina, occupation: Member Legislator and merchant. FamilySearch .
• Biographical sketch. Forever Free: Nineteenth Century African-American Legislators and Constitutional Convention Delegates of Texas 2002.
• GEIGER, HARRIEL G. (ca. 1840-1886). Handbook of Texas Online .
• Mentioned in Negro Legislators of Texas and Their Descendants 1970.
• Newspaper accounts indicate Hal Geiger was shot and mortally wounded in a Hearne courtroom by O.D. Cannon (or O.D. Connor) on 5/18/1886, and died in Hearne on 6/11/1886. The Galveston Daily News, 5/19/1886, p. 1, crediting Abilene Library Consortium; Austin Weekly Statesman, 5/20/1886, p. 1; Brenham Daily Banner, 5/20/1886, p. 2, crediting Abilene Library Consortium; The Galveston Daily News, 6/12/1886, p. 1, crediting Abilene Library Consortium. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries) . Austin Galveston (1)
Galveston (2) Brenham
• Biographical sketch, Harrold G. Geiger, pp. 259-260. Born in South Carolina in 1839. Texas Legislative Manual, 1879-80 1879.
• Mentioned in Chapter VI, "Black Belt Politics." The Negro in Texas, 1874-1900 1971.
• Biographical sketch, pp. 60-61, "sometimes a Republican and sometimes a Greenbacker," Geiger won election to the 16th Legislature on the Greenback ticket. Birth year 1840, Appendix D. Through Many Dangers, Toils, and Snares: Black Leadership in Texas, 1868-1898 2016.

Committee Information

• 17th R.S. - 1881
• Agriculture  
• Roads, Bridges and Ferries  
• 16th R.S. - 1879
• Roads, Bridges and Ferries