Benton County ArArchives Biographies.....Giger, Julius 1865 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/arfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 May 30, 2009, 11:53 pm Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922) JULIUS GIGER. Julius Giger, who dates his arrival in Benton county from 1896, has been well known in business circles of Bentonville as the owner of a first-class garage and in association with his brother, Henry Giger, he has become the owner of a fine fruit farm of two hundred and sixty-five acres, constituting one of the best improved and most valuable agricultural properties in the county. He has recently exchanged the garage for a large stock farm in the northwest corner of the county. He is an enterprising and progressive business man whose plans are carefully formulated and in their execution he is prompt and determined. Mr. Giger is a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Madison county on the 31st of March, 1865. His parents were Daniel and Marietta (Todd) Giger, who were also natives of that county. In 1884 they removed to Kansas, where the father purchased a farm, which he continued to cultivate until 1901, when he made his way to Arkansas, but subsequently returned to the Sunflower state, where he spent his remaining years, departing this life in Lyon county, where the mother's demise also occurred. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and in his political views Mr. Giger was a republican, while fraternally he was connected with the Masons. In their family were six children: Julius, the subject of this review; Mildred Alberta, the wife of John Boosinger, who follows farming in Lyon county, Kansas; Emma, who married C. L. Saffer, a farmer residing at Bentonville; James, who is operating a farm in the state of Kansas; Clem, a farmer in Allen, Kansas; and Henry, who resides in Bentonville and is associated in business with the subject of this review. In the schools of Illinois Julius Giger acquired his education and on starting out in life, independently took up the occupation of farming, which he followed in Lyon county, Kansas, until 1896, when he came to Arkansas, purchasing eighty acres of unimproved land in Benton county, and in order to gain a start he was obliged to borrow money, having a capital of less than three hundred dollars when he arrived in this locality. He devoted every energy to the cultivation of his land, utilizing the most modern and progressive methods and gradually converting it into a rich and productive property. He was at length able to discharge all of his indebtedness and as his resources increased he gradually enlarged his holdings, until he now has in all six hundred and eighty acres, of which sixty-five acres is devoted to the raising of fine apples. He is interested in all modern developments along agricultural lines and has equipped his farm with the most labor saving machinery. He formerly had the best horses in the county but now utilizes three trucks and two tractors and has also installed a waterworks system on the place, keeping abreast of the times in every way. He has wrought a remarkable transformation in the appearance of the property, which at the time it came into his possession was the poorest piece of land in the county but is now classed with the most highly developed and valuable farms of this section. His brother, Henry Giger. is part owner of the property and is also associated with him in his other business interests. In 1920 he took up his residence in Bentonville, where he at first became connected with the feed business, later opening a garage and also engaging in the lumber business. He now devotes all of his attention to the management of his farms and his his efforts have been crowned with a substantial measure of success. In 1889 occurred the marriage of Julius Giger and Miss Alice H. Curt, a native of Vermilion county, Illinois, and a daughter of Thomas H. Curt, who served as a captain in the Civil war, receiving two severe wounds. Mr. and Mrs. Giger have had no children of their own but reared an adopted daughter, Cora Hatcher, who is now residing in Benton county. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. The cause of education has ever found in him a strong advocate and he is deeply interested in the schools of the county. For a number of years he was a director of the country schools and is now serving as school director of Bentonville, in which connection he is doing effective work. Energy, perseverance and thrift are recognized the world over as the foundation of material prosperity and these three qualities are possessed by Mr. Giger. He enjoys the esteem of many friends and fully deserves the honor that is accorded the fortunate individual who has fought and won in the great battle of life. Additional Comments: Citation: Centennial History of Arkansas Volume II Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company 1922 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ar/benton/bios/giger6bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/arfiles/ File size: 5.4 Kb