"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Chapman 
Publishing Company, 1903. p. 932.
 
GEORGE CUSITER

     To an appreciable extent Silverton has profited by the shrewd business
ability of George Cusiter, one of those rugged and honest Scotchmen whose thrift
and industry have been the making of many a community in the United States. The
early life of George Cusiter was passed in the vicinity of Edinburgh, Scotland,
where he was born August 18, 1860, and where he received a practical home
training in a typical Scotch family. His father, George Cusiter, was born in the
Orkney Islands, off the north coast of Scotland, and spent the greater part of
his boyhood and young manhood among these rather bleak and cheerless Scottish
possessions. His ancestors had long tilled the soil of the unprofitable lands,
and his grandfather and great-grandfather spent their entire lives where the
mists hung heavy for the greater part of the year, and where the crops were
backward and limited to few varieties. George Cusiter was an educator of
prominence at Dalke, his education having been received at that school, and he
was also a man of science, having made a particular study of coal gas. At
frequent intervals he contributed articles on chemistry and science to the
leading journals throughout the United Kingdom, and withal was a profound and
conscientious student. His death occurred in 1874. He was survived by his wife,
formerly Miss Mary Young, a native of Selkirk, Scotland, who is now sixty-six
years of age.
     The only son, and the oldest of the four children born to his parents,
George Cusiter had the inspiration to study which his father's scholarly life
furnished, and he had the advantage both of a common school education, and of a
course in the George Watson College at, Edinburgh, from which he was duly
graduated in 1876. The year of his graduation he embarked upon a business life
as a clerk in the office department of a wholesale grocery concern, and there
laid the foundation for the practical life in which he has since engaged. The
thoroughness required of employes in all departments of activity in Scotland had
its effect, as did the upright methods everywhere recognized as a shining
characteristic of Scottish national life.
     Armed with his experience and with great hope in the future of America, Mr.
Cusiter came to the United States in 1885, and after crossing the continent to,
Portland, Ore. remained there for a couple of months. Not, being particularly
well impressed with the northern city he found his way to Silverton, where he
secured a position as bookkeeper for the flouring mills of this city. Five
years' association in this capacity convinced him that he had found a good place
in which to live, and one which held out a helping hand to all who were
industrious and capable. Desiring to engage in business on his own
responsibility, he bought out a merchandise business with a partner, and thus
continued to cater to the needs of the community for several years. In 1902 he
bought out his partner, and has since conducted the business alone. His store
contains a stock valued at $8,000, and his goods are selected with reference to
supplying a large and exacting trade. The greatest consideration is shown
patrons of this well managed enterprise, the proprietor encouraging in his
assistants, tact and patience, and the greatest order and neatness. 
     In Salem, Ore., in 1893, Mr. Cusiter married Nettie Ridings, a native of
Clackamas county, Ore., near Marquam. Mr. Cusiter is a Democrat in political
affiliation, and among the positions of trust held by him during his residence
here may be mentioned that of mayor of the city for three terms, and member of
the council for two terms. He is fraternally connected with Silverton Lodge No.
45, A. F. & A. M., and Home Lodge No. 35 Knights of Pythias. The friends and
associates of Mr. Cusiter speak of him as a whole-souled, honorable and
public-spirited gentleman, and one in whom his adopted city may well repose the
greatest confidence.


     
*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.