William Robinson George, a representative business
citizen of Staunton, Macoupin County, junior member of the hardware firm of
Godfrey & George, was born in Mercer County, Ohio, November 6, 1851, and is
a son of Rev. William F. and Martha (Speers) George.
The George
family originated in Wales. John George, the great-greatgrandfather of our
subject, was born in Scotland, to which country the family had removed, and
his son Jonathan was the founder of the family in America, coming hither at
the age of 20 years. Jonathan George took part in the War of 1812, and a bit
of interesting history is connected with his service. During the stay of the
troops in New Orleans, when food was scarce, he saved himself from actual
starvation by eating a part of the leather cover of a Bible, which he had
carried through all adventures. This relic was in the possession of our
subject for a long period. The family name of his wife has been lost, and
also the names of his 12 children, with the exception of that of Alexander,
the grandfather of our subject. Alexander George was born in Pennsylvania,
in the vicinity of Pittsburg. He was a man possessed of ample means, later
removed to Ohio and owned a large tract known as "Bear Forests," where our
subject one time witnessed four bears killed in one morning. His children
were named: Robert, Mary, William F., Christina, Helen and Thomas.
Rev. William F. George was born in November, 1821, in New Concord, Ohio, and
died in 1879 at Staunton Illinois. He was a man of superior education and
was educated for the ministry in Lane Theological Seminary in Cincinnati,
and later became instructor in dead languages at Northwood, Ohio. In 1851 he
accepted a charge at Macedon, Ohio, where he remained until 1858, when he
removed to Illinois. He, with his brother Robert, owned at one time 2,000
acres of land and the earnings of a successful mercantile business carried
on at Lodi, Illinois, where he was associated with his brother. Both lost
all they possessed by the failure of "wild cat" or State Banks, to which
they had entrusted their funds, and both died poor. Rev. William F. George
married Martha Spears, who was born in 1823 in Ohio and now resides with a
daughter at Staunton. They had these children: Robert, of St. Louis,
Missouri; Albert H., of Raymond, Illinois; William Robinson, of this sketch;
Mrs. Adella M. Stanton, of St. Louis, Missouri; John B., of La Salle,
Colorado; James R., of Washington, Iowa; A. V., a druggist, who died in
Staunton, Macoupin County, in 1884; Arthur, of Peoria, Illinois; and Anna
B., of Staunton, Macoupin County.
William Robinson George was seven
years of age when his parents came to Illinois. They lived in Iroquois
County until 1860, when they removed to Randolph County, and located in
Staunton in 1871. Mr. George attended school in Randolph County, spending
three years in the high school at Coulterville and then clerked in a general
store for the same length of time. After settling with the family in
Macoupin County, he assisted his father on the farm for two years, and then
became clerk in the general store and was also connected with the flouring
mill, where he remained until the fall of 1879. Then he went to St. Louis
and in the following year was graduated at Jones' Commercial College. Upon
his return to Staunton, Mr. George became bookkeeper for the hardware firm
of F. R. Fritz & Company; after three years, he organized a company and
bought the business, which he operated under the firm name of Williamson,
George & Company for three years and three months. On account of failing
health, Mr. George sold his interest and went on the road for the Wood
Machine Company until the fall of 1888, when he engaged to work for his
brother-in-law, E. E. Godfrey, in the hardware business which he conducted
until 1890, when he formed a partnership with Mr. Godfrey, and ever since
the business has been conducted under the firm name of Godfrey & George.
Mr. George has always been an enterprising and public spirited citizen,
but has remained an independent in politics. He has filled a number of the
local offices and has served at various times as collector and township
clerk, his constantly increasing business responsibilities making him
unwilling to enter into very active political life, although he never shirks
what he deems a civic duty.
On May 2, 1882, Mr. George was united in
marriage with May Godfrey, who was born January 26, 1859, in Staunton
township, Macoupin County, Illinois, is a daughter of Frank and Mary
Godfrey, very prominent residents of the locality for many years. They have
two children: Elvin David and Leslie.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 439-441.
Macoupin County ILGenWeb Copyright
Design by
Templates in Time
This page was last updated
07/01/2022