Dr. Jacob Geiger was born in Wurttemberg, Germany (July 25, 1848 – December 8, 1934) emigrating with his mother and four siblings on May 2, 1851. They first settled in Illinois and then in 1858, Kansas and then on to St. Joseph where he took a course at Bryants Business College.

After a very delicate operation preformed was on his foot that year, he decided to go into medicine. He attended the Medical University at Louisville, Kentucky in 1871.

He returned to St. Joseph and opened an office and had a successful and profitable practice. In the fall of 1879, the college of Physicians and Surgeons was organized, and Dr. Geiger was chosen chair of Principle and Practice of Surgery and Clinical Surgery. He was a talented surgeon and was given the honor of being the leading surgeon in Northwest Missouri.

He was one of the founders, and, for five years the Secretary of the District Medical Society of Northwest Missouri. He was Vice President of the State Medical Society of Missouri, and a member of the American Medical Association.

Dr. Geiger’s interests were not only within his profession. For a half century he was a leader in civic life in St. Joseph. He was President of the City Council from 1886-1888 and a nominee for congress in 1916.

He was also active in St. Joseph’s financial circles. He was a director of several banks. He owned a large amount of city property, including the St. Francis Hotel and the Townsend, Wyatt and Wall building.

At one time there were 3 medical colleges in St. Joseph. He was a professor of Practice and Principles of Surgery at Ensworth Medical College in St. Joseph for 34 years. He was also a member of the faculty of the University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Professor Emeritus of Surgery of the Sims Institute.

Dr Geiger received a Doctor of Law degree from Park College, Parkville, Missouri in 1897.

He practiced medicine in St. Joseph for 64 years and owned the home that this cafe is a part of. Most people included in this cafe project were born in St. Joseph but Dr. Geiger is one of the few exceptions. He is buried within an ornate Italian style mausoleum at Mt. Mora Cemetery.