Geiger Cigar Factory *

The largest cigar factory in Rock Island county is that owned by Joseph Geiger, at No. 831 Fourth avenue, Rock Island. Mr. Geiger gives steady employment to twenty-eight people, and produces 1,250,000 cigars annually. His specialty is a five cent cigar, J. Geiger's Leader, although he also produces a fine ten cent cigar, the Corinus.

He began manufacturing cigars in the corner of a living room on Sixteenth street, between Third and Fourth avenue. His stock consisted of five dollars worth of tobacco. He bought in these small quantities, and made his cigars alone. So ex­ cellent was his quality, that within eight months, he had to employ a helper, and in two years, he rented his first store room at No. 801 Third avenue, where he gave employment to four men. In 1886 he moved to No. 1312 Third avenue, when he gave employment to eight men, and he remained in that location until 1891, when he came to his present factory, and here he has built up his immense business His product is sold principally in Rock Island county.

Joseph Geiger's biography is in Biographies.

*Geiger Cigar Manufacturing was in many places but Mr. Geiger's decendent Tim Moore thinks this picture was taken on 3rd or 4th avenue in Rock Island.

Information and picture submitted by Tim Moore

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