Harriel G. 'Hal' Geiger
Full Name: Harriel G. "Hal" GeigerDate of birth: 1840
Date of death: June 11, 1886
Terms of Service top
| Chamber | District | Dates of Service | Legislatures | Party | City/County | Note | Counties in District |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H | 27 | Apr 6, 1882 - Jan 9, 1883 | 17th (1) (2) (3) (4) | Greenback | Hearne / Robertson | Robertson | |
| H | 27 | Jan 14, 1879 - Jan 11, 1881 | 16th (5) (6) (7) (8) | Republican | Hearne / Robertson | Robertson |
(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) 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.
(4) "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.
(5) Republican, 1/14/1879, p. 1. Galveston Daily News.
(6) States Geiger was a Republican candidate endorsed by the Greenback party. Handbook of Texas Online.
(7) Republican. Texas Legislative Manual, 1879-80, 1879.
(8) "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.
Terms of Service top
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House District 27
Apr 6, 1882 - Jan 9, 1883 Legislatures: 17th (1) (2) (3) (4) Party: Greenback Home City/County: Hearne / Robertson Counties in district: Robertson |
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House District 27
Jan 14, 1879 - Jan 11, 1881 Legislatures: 16th (5) (6) (7) (8) Party: Republican Home City/County: Hearne / Robertson Counties in district: Robertson |
(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) 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.
(4) "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.
(5) Republican, 1/14/1879, p. 1. Galveston Daily News.
(6) States Geiger was a Republican candidate endorsed by the Greenback party. Handbook of Texas Online.
(7) Republican. Texas Legislative Manual, 1879-80, 1879.
(8) "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.
Biographical Information top
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.
Biographical Sketches
- 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.
- Biographical sketch, Harrold G. Geiger, pp. 259-260. Born in South Carolina in 1839. Texas Legislative Manual, 1879-80, 1879.
- 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.
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.
- Mentioned in Chapter VI, "Black Belt Politics." The Negro in Texas, 1874-1900, 1971.
- 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 Brenham Galveston (1) Galveston (2)
Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol
- 17th session composite photo of House members (Texas State Library and Archives Commission). Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Committee Information top
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17th R.S. - 1881
Agriculture Roads, Bridges and Ferries | ||
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16th R.S. - 1879
Roads, Bridges and Ferries |
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