An
unusually busy career has fallen to the lot of the subject of this
sketch. Mr. George was born in Staunton, in Staunton township, on
October 7, 1883, and is the elder of the two sons born to May Godfrey
George and the late William Robinson George. Both parents were members
of pioneer families who settled early in Staunton township, and who
contributed so much to the early history of that community.
Mr.
George attended the Staunton Grade Schools, and Whipple Academy and
Illinois College, at Jacksonville, graduating from the latter school in
1902 with high honors. He then read law for a year in the office of the
late D. G. Williamson, one of Macoupin's most prominent attorneys,
afterwards completing his legal education at Washington University, in
St. Louis. He graduated from the Law Department of that institution in
1905 and was ad-mitted to the practice of law in the State of Illinois
the same year.
He immediately began the practice of law in
Staunton, his home town, and was elected to the office of City Attorney
in 1906, and has served the City, at different times, for about twelve
years in that capacity. He is also serving as Staunton Township
Attorney, and as Village Attorney for Williamson and Livingston, in
Madison County, and for Sawyerville in this county, which positions he
has held for the last seven years. Mr. George is a member of the
Illinois Bar and of the American Bar Associations, and is now serving
his third term as President of the Macoupin County Bar Association. By
appointment of the Judge presiding in the Circuit Court in May, 1933, he
is now serving as Master-in-Chancery of Macoupin county.
The
military experience of Mr. George is also quite varied and extensive, he
having enlisted as a private in the United States Marine Corps in 1907,
serving continuously thereafter until his discharge in 1919, shortly
after the Armistice. During this term of service he advanced in the
ranks until at the time he resigned he held the rank of Warrant Officer.
His record shows honorable and distinguished service in many foreign
countries, including the Hawaiian Islands. Guam, the Philippine Islands
and China, In China, from 1912 to 1915, and from 1916 to 1919, he was
attached to and served with the 38th Company, U. S. M. C., American
Legation Guard at Peking, as First Sergeant, Sergeant-Major and Warrant
Officer. Mr. George, since his discharge, has been especially active in
veterans' work. He is a charter member of Elmer Dick Post No. 362,
American Legion, and served as its first Commander. He is also a charter
member of Staunton post No. 1241, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Mr.
George is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, Staumon Lodge No. 177, A.
F. & A. M., and the Consistory and Shrine at East St. Louis. He is also
a member of the Staunton Rotary Club, having served that club both as
Secretary and President. In addition to these organizations he has been
active in many other organizations of his community which have to do
with civic improvements and community welfare, giving freely of his time
and abilities to the problems confronting these organizations.
In politics he has always been a staunch Democrat, supporting the
principles of that Party and working for its advancement and success at
all times. His recognized experience and ability, coupled with his keen
interest in civic affairs, resulted in his being selected by the
Democratic Party, at the April, 1933, Primary to be the candidate of
that Party for the offlce of County Judge of Macoupin county at the
election to be held November next.
On June 15, 1922, Mr. George
was united in marriage with Miss Mildred E. Rowe, of Carlinville, the
granddaughter of the late Mrs. Herman Wiese, and the daughter of Wm. E.
Rowe, of Springfield, and the late Clara Mason Rowe. Mr. and Mrs. George
have, since their marriage, made their home in Staunton, where Mrs.
George has become helpfully active in the social and civic affairs of
their community.
Extracted 15 Dec 2018 by Norma Hass from History of a Famous Courthouse, by W. B. Brown, published in 1934, pages 51-52.
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