John Geiger, a prominent resident of the town of Maple Grove, died at his home last week Thursday after a long illness.

He was born in 1860 on the homestead farm which has been his home since. After the death of his parents he took over the farm which is one of the best in this section, the fruit of his long years of thrift and steady industry. A portion of the Kettle moraine traverses the land containing a rich vein of fine sand and gravel for which a great demand existed and Mr. Geiger came to be known as the "Gravel King."

In 1887 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Brill (sic) of Darboy who now survives him.

He is also survived by six sons, George and Henry Geiger residing in the city, Edward, John and Emmerich at home and Frank of Manitowoc. There are six daughters, Mrs. Clara ??? of Plainfield, Il., Miss Lena of this city, Mary of Chicago and Elnore, Mathilda and Celia at home. Likewise, two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Hopfenberger of Appleton and Mrs. Ed. Schrage of Menasha.

He was a member of the Kasson Branch of the Catholic Knights. The funeral was held on Monday, services being conducted in the Catholic Church at Kasson by Rev. Garthaus. Interment in the Catholic Cemetery at Kasson.

Brillion News – November 30, 1923 ... submitted by contributor "Larry Krueger" (#47801461)

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ALMOST A TRAGEDY

John Geiger has a well near his barn. Their well comprises an old dug well 14 ft. deep, lined with stone and when its water supply became insufficient it was drilled down to a great depth. For three years this well was unopened. As it contained no water, it was never thought necessary to open it. A short time ago, however, John decided to examine this old well and last Saturday he and his two sturdy sons (chips off the old block), Henry and Eddie, removed the cover and John prepared to descend. He is a powerful man in robust health and as he had often previously done, went into the dark hole without the use of a ladder, bracing himself entirely with hands and feet, the apertures between the stones of the lining walls afforded good holds. In telling his story to the NEWS, John said that when he started to go down he had a premonition of danger but thought little of it, supposing his nervousness to be due only to advancing age and with his two sons looking on, he was too gamey to back out of his job. However, he was quickly to find that his courage alone would not avail against the enemy lurking at the bottom of that well. For after descending a number of feet, he felt a choking sensation accompanied by dizziness and a constriction in the chest. He felt himself growing weak and unable to speak and had to gasp for breath. He thought, perhaps the boys had jokingly closed the well at the top and that the air had become too close, but looking up he saw the well was open at the top. It was at this point that John decided discretion to be better than valor. He felt terribly weak but thoroughly alarmed at his condition he exerted the last ounce of his strength to climb back to Gods fresh air. That little speck of sky above looked like heaven to him and it is safe to say that no man ever strove for it more sincerely than John did at that very moment. He managed to get out all right and was weak and panting for breath for 20 minutes. But he still did not know what the trouble was. There had been no odor in the well to betray the deadly gas that had been stored there for three years. He simply thought at the moment that he was a "has been" and no longer able to do what he once could. So they decided to get a ladder and let the boys do the investigating. Henry descended first but before he reached the bottom, he likewise had to give it up. Then Eddie tried it with the same result. The boys were not so badly affected as their valiant father but after the second son's attempt, they reached the conclusion that dead gas had affected them. John was told at the drug store that had he not beat a retreat so promptly, he would have had a quick death at the bottom of the well and it is possible that in attempting to get their father out, the boys would have met a similar fate. John says it was the closest shave he ever had and he wants us to publish this story to serve as a warning to others of the danger there may be in recklessly descending into old wells and we agree with him.

Brillion News - August 22, 1913 ... submitted by contributor "Shari Milks" (49043446)