The Railroad Fixer Who Helped Build Seattle Dies of a Cold Caught in Olympia

Jesse W. George, right-of-way agent for the Great Northern Railroad Company, died at his residence, southeast corner of Fourth and Cherry streets, at 1 o'clock this morning. Yesterday afternoon the physicians in attendance, Dr. Carpenter and Dr. Bagley, had given up hope, but last night there was a slight change for the better, and at 10 o'clock the family said he was resting easily. About midnight he began to sink and breathed his last at 1 o'clock.

Mr. George was a victim of pneumonia. He went to Olympia during the session of the legislature and there contracted a severe cold which settled on his lungs. He returned home two weeks ago and was advised that it was not necessary for him to keep his bed. At first the illness was not thought serious, but he grew worse and the physicians were called.

J. Q. George, ex-congressman from Oregon and brother of the deceased, arrived in the city in response to a telegraph message.

Jesse Wilkeson George was born in Morgan county, December 11, 1835, and was the son of Presley George. His father was a native of Virginia, and in early life migrated to Ohio, where he married and lived for forty years. His mother was a descendant of an old Puritan family of the Bay state.

In 1851 Presley George, with his wife and three sons, Hugh N., Jesse W. and J. C. George, crossed the plains to Oregon, settling on a donation claim near Lebanon, Linn county, which is still known by his name. During the latter part of his life he resided at East Portland, where he celebrated his golden wedding in 1875, and where he died December 23, 1879, at an advanced age.

Jesse George received his rudimentary education in Ohio and later attended an academy in Linn county. He remained at home engaged in farm labor until his twenty-fifth year, when he settled on a farm of his own near Lebanon. He took a prominent interest in local affairs until he moved to Seattle in 1872. Upon locating in Seattle he at once entered actively into the business development of the city, acquiring extensive real estate and property interests. He was one of the three original organizers of the Washington Iron Works and actively assisted in procuring the right-of-way of the Columbia & Puget Sound Railroad, the first railroad from Seattle. He was one of the committee to secure right-of-way up the Black river valley to Renton. In later years he acted in a similar capacity for the Union Pacific Company and at the time of his death was engaged in like work for the Seattle & Montana Railroad Company.

In July he was appointed by President Arthur United States marshal for the territory and served until after the change of administration. During the great fire of 1889 he suffered considerable loss of property, but with the same spirit which animated so many other citizens after that catastrophe, he rebuilt on the corner of South Second and Main streets a fine six-story brick building which forms one of the notable structures of the city.

Mr. George was a man of sound judgment and firmness of character. Owing to his high integrity he was often consulted, and his opinions in regard to business enterprises were generally followed. He was modest and naturally little inclined to self-praise, but his strong and positive individuality made him a power in the community.