J. M. W. GEIST, PHILIP GEIST - Lancaster Co.
“A Biographical History of Lancaster Co. Being a History of
Early Settlers and Eminent Men of the County” by Alex. Harris, 1827
Lancaster, Pa.: Elias Barr & Co., 1872
Pg. 231, J. M. W. GEIST was one of the editors of the Lancaster Express, was born in Bart Twp., Lancaster Co., on the 14th of December, 1824.He taught school for some time in Chester Co. and elsewhere.In 1843 he visited Philadelphia in order to attend medical lectures in that city.An opportunity now presented itself to him to learn the trade of his early choice - printing and stereotyping - and he abandoned medicine.In 1844 he began his editorial career in charge of the Reformer, a temperance paper of Lancaster, which proved to be a financial failure.Inducements being held out to him by the State temperance organization to essay the establishment of his paper at Harrisburg, he accepted the offer, which was unsuccessful because of financial difficulties.In 1846 he edited an anti-administration paper called the Yeoman.Later he was employed in Philadelphia in the Quaker City newspaper office.After this he became editor of the Sunday Globe, next one of the publishers of the Sunday Mercury.In February, 1852, he accepted the proposition of John H. Pearsol, came to Lancaster, and assumed the editorial management of the Weekly Express.Mr. Geist purchased an interest in the paper.
Pg. 232, PHILIP GEIST, elected Commissioner in 1853.