U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- George, Samuel (1827-1903) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 505-507 HON. SAMUEL GEORGE, member of the State Senate from the First Senatorial District, one of the prominent political leaders in West Virginia and president of the Wellsburg Banking & Trust Company, was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, May 23, 1827, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (McCammon) George, both of whom were natives of Washington County, Pennsylvania. The George family were early settlers of Western Pennsylvania. In 1832 our subject's parents removed to Brooke County, Virginia, now West Virginia, where Thomas George engaged successfully in farming and became one of the substantial citizens. He removed to Illinois in 1860 and died there at the age of 86 years. For some time he lived six miles from Bethany, the home of Alexander Campbell, founder of the Campbellite Church. His wife died at Canton, Fulton County, Illinois, at the age of 62. Samuel George was one of a family of nine children born to our subject's parents; but two are now living: Samuel; and James, who resides in Canton, Fulton County, Illinois. Samuel George enjoyed but limited educational advantages in youth, but the school of experience has since taught him much, while his long life of activity has brought him into contact with men and made him acquainted with affairs, thus developing and ripening natural mental faculties. He was reared on his father's farm and his early outlook was the plodding life of a country agriculturist, far removed from industrial and political activities which have so closely environed him for many years. His father being not very well-to-do, our subject when 17 years old left the farm and worked as a farm laborer for seven years. In the place of the youth who spent seven precious years of his young manhood working on a farm for $2.50 a week, we find the president of one of the largest manufacturing concerns of West Virginia, which employs hundreds of skilled workmen, a capitalist in many lines of industrial activity, the president or a strong banking institution, and also the chosen representative of his party in one of the highest official positions in the party's gift. Upon his removal from Illinois to Wellsburg, Virginia, now West Virginia, he secured a situation as clerk in the grocery of Irwin & Gist. He remained in that connection two years, and then, binding himself with James Applegate, he purchased the store of his late employers, the new firm being known as Applegate & George. After seven prosperous years as a member of this firm, the partnership was dissolved and Mr. George engaged in a wool business alone for 20 years. Having acquired large means, he then entered into the banking business as proprietor of the Bank of Wellsburg, which business was conducted very successfully until a recent date when he organized the Banking & Trust Company of Wellsburg, which succeeded to his banking business. This bank has a capital stock of $100,000 and stands very high in the business world. In 1878 Mr. George engaged in the manufacture of paper, this venture following the disposal of his interests in the grocery business. Later, Mr. George purchased his partner's interests, and in 1892 the S. George Company was organized and incorporated with Mr. George as president. The immense plant is located near the Ohio River, at Wellsburg, and is devoted to the manufacture of paper sacks of all kinds, being one of the extensive manufacturing institutions of the city. In 1882 he engaged in the glass business, which is also an incorporated concern, in which he is the controlling factor. Mr. George has been for many years interested in politics, and as early as 1862 he was elected sheriff of Brooke County, a position he ably filled for four years. In 1900, he was elected by the vote of the Republican party of the First Senatorial District as a member of the State Senate, to represent the counties of Hancock, Brooke and Ohio. His services in this connection were deemed so valuable that he was elected for a second term in 1902. In 1857, Mr. George married Eleanor Miller, a native of Wellsburg, who died two and one-half years later. The two children of this union died in infancy. His second marriage was to Eliza Kimberland, of Wellsburg, and to this union were born nine children, of whom eight still survive. The record is as follows: Ella, who lives at home; Nira, who married M. L. Wells, of Wellsburg, and has three children; Bessie, who married J. F. Cree, an attorney of Wellsburg; Mary, who is the widow of William Both well and resides in Wellsburg: Stella, who married Lewis Zimmerman, of Steubenville, Ohio; Mattie, who lives at home; Sarah, who also lives at home; Samuel, Jr., who is in the paper mill; and Thomas, who is in the bank. Mrs. George died in 1894. Mr. George was married a third time, in 1895, to Mrs. Lucy F. Mendel (Weil) Jacobs. Mr. and Mrs. George are members of the Presbyterian Church. Senator George has associated with him in his business enterprises some of the leading capitalists and prominent citizens of his section of the State. His personality is strong and his influence is felt as the guiding spirit in the large undertakings founded by him. At the same time, he is a man of sincerity, simple manners and pleasing personality, one whose word is a guaranty of good faith. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Register of Births and Deaths in Brooke County, WV (Page 180, Line No. 33) FULL-NAME: Sam'l George DEATH-DATE: August 6, 1903 AGE-AT-DEATH: 76 years OCCUPATION: Banker SPOUSE: Lucy CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Old Age INFORMANT: son (3rd wife of Samuel George) From Death Certificate, Brooke County, WV #46 FULL-NAME: Mrs. Lucy Mendel George BIRTH-DATE: February 26, 1862 BIRTH-PLACE: Wellsburg, Brooke, W.Va. DEATH-DATE: January 12, 1942 (at age 79y-10m-14d) DEATH-PLACE: 1413 Pleas. Ave., Wellsburg, Brooke County, W.Va USUAL-RESIDENCE: 1413 Pleas. Ave., Wellsburg, Brooke County, W.Va MARITAL-STATUS: Widowed OCCUPATION: Housewife FATHER: Benjamin Jacobs (born in Wellsburg, W.Va.) MOTHER: Alice Jacobsss (born in Wellsburg, W.Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Chronic Myocarditis INFORMANT: Joseph P. Mendel (of Wellsburg, W.Va.) BURIAL: Brooke Cemetery, Wellsburg, W.Va. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Brooke County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/brooke/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------