U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Snook, George M. (1854-1937) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 420-421 GEORGE M. SNOOK, who has been engaged in the dry goods business since he was 15 years of age, is at the head of the firm of George M. Snook & Company, which conducts one of the most complete wholesale and retail dry goods houses in the State of West Virginia. The business was established in 1884 by George Rentsch, Albert Wilkie and George M. Snook, and has since been conducted under the firm name of George M. Snook & Company. The present place of business is at No. 1110 Main street, but a new building is being completed which will include Nos. 1110, 1112, and 1114 Main street. No. 1114 of the new building will extend through to Market street, 265 feet, and Nos. 1110 and 1112 will be 132 feet deep. The building being erected will have five stories and a basement, and will be supplied with steam heat and elevator power, electric light and the pneumatic tube system of cash carrier service, the only one at the present time in the city of Wheeling. The front of the building is of white enamel brick, and the main part is of structural iron work, filled with brick, making it a very substantial building and one of the best in the State. There are double show windows on the first and second floors, and a vestibule continuing to the third floor. At the present time about 80 people are employed, but this number will be increased to 125 or 150 when the new building is occupied. The firm bears an excellent reputation for the character of the goods handled, and has always done an extensive business. The first floor is well stocked with general merchandise, notions and dry goods; the second floor, with ladies' ready made goods; the third, with carpets, curtains and draperies; and the fourth with fancy and holiday goods. The reserve and duplicate stock is carried on the fifth floor, and the china and house furnishing goods are in the basement. The present members of the company are George M. Snook, George Rentsch, Albert L. Wilkie, Thomas Carnahan, Jr., Remick P. Truxell, Louis Rentsch and H. D. Hervey, — an array of business talent that would succeed in any venture. Mr. Snook was born at Martinsburg, West Virginia, and removed to Wheeling in 1876, entering the employ of Charles Brues as clerk. In 1880, he began clerking for George E. Stifel & Company, and continued until 1884, when his present business was established. His life work has been devoted to the dry goods business, and his knowledge of it in all its details, combined with a superior natural ability, has been the secret of his success. Mr. Snook was united in marriage with Emma Truxell, a daughter of Henry Truxell, deceased, who was an early resident of Wheeling, and was identified with the LaBelle Iron Works. Mr. Snook lives in Pleasant Valley. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has a brother, Charles S. Snook, located in Wheeling. ------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Ohio County, WV #10819 FULL-NAME: George Murphy Snook BIRTH-DATE: November 18, 1854 BIRTH-PLACE: Martinsburg, West Virginia DEATH-DATE: July 3, 1937 (at age 82y-7m-15d) DEATH-PLACE: Formosa Apts., Eoff Street, Wheeling, Ohio County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Widower, Emma Truxell OCCUPATION: Retired, Former owner Dep't. Store FATHER: Samuel Snook, (born in Lovettsville, Virginia) MOTHER: Harriet Smith (born in Middleway, Jefferson County, WV) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Cardiac Exhaustion, Prostatic Carcinoma INFORMANT: William Duvall (of 1313 Eoff St., Wheeling, W.Va.) BURIAL: Greenwood Mausoleum ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Ohio County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/ohio/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------