"A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of the City of
Seattle and County of King, Washington." New York and Chicago: Lewis Publishing
Co., 1903.  p.  89.
 
GEORGE B. LAMPING

     A new chapter has been written and added to the history of the United
States within the past few years and it is one which reflects credit upon the
country and her annals.  It shows her military and naval strength and has gained
her a prominent place among the great powers of the world.  History is never the
work of one or even a few men, but is the aggregate endeavor of many who work in
unison with a single purpose and aim.  George B. Lamping is among the number
contributing to the new record, for he was a loyal soldier during the
Spanish-American war and in the Philippines faithfully upheld the honor of the
starry banner that had been planted on foreign soil.
     A native of Spencer county, Indiana, he was born on the 20th of March,
1875, and is of German, English and Scotch lineage.  At an early date in the
development of this land the Lamping family was established in Pennsylvania, our
subject being of the fourth generation born in this country.  His father, Samuel
W. Lamping, was a native of Kentucky, whence he removed to southern Indiana and
was there married to Miss Mary E. Butler, a native of Grandview, that state.
For a number of years he was engaged in business as a commission merchant and in
1890 he came to Seattle as special agent for the United States land department.
In politics he was a stalwart Republican and was a veteran of the Civil war who
served the Union as a lieutenant-colonel in the Fifty-second Indiana Regiment at
the time the country was imperiled by the spirit of secession in the south.  He
was with General Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea which showed that
the military force of the Confederacy was almost exhausted.  He escaped injury,
returning in safety to his home after rendering his country valuable service in
his religious views he was a Methodist and departed this life in that faith in
1893.  His wife now resides in Seattle, respected by all who know her.  Six
children were born unto them and all are living upon the Pacific coast; Evart,
who is the cashier of the German Insurance agency in San Francisco; L. F., a
special insurance agent at Portland, Oregon; Clifton, a teller in the Boston
National Bank of Seattle; Samuel, who is deputy auditor of King county under his
brother, George; Frederick, who is attending school in Seattle; and Anna, also a
student.
     George B. Lamping pursued his early education in the schools of his native
state and at the age of fifteen accompanied his parents to Washington, where he
completed his literary course in the university of the state.  For a time he
occupied the position of bookkeeper in the Puget Sound National Bank of Seattle,
but when the war with Spain was declared he put aside business and personal
interests, offering his services to the government.  He was appointed second
lieutenant of Company D, First Washington Volunteer Infantry, and served
throughout the war with Spain and in the Philippines.  He was promoted to the
rank of captain in the Eleventh United States Cavalry, and because of
meritorious conduct was commended by General Otis and General Lawton.  He also
served on the staff of the latter.  Since returning from the war he has been
appointed lieutenant-colonel of the First Regiment of the Washington National
Guard, since which time he has been promoted to colonel, with headquarters at
Seattle.  In November, 1900, he was elected to his present office as county
auditor and recorder on the Republican ticket, receiving the largest majority
ever since to any candidate for an office in the county, running fifteen hundred
votes ahead of his ticket.  He is the youngest man that has ever held a county
or state office in Washington, now having charge of the business connected with
the position in a county containing one hundred and eighty thousand inhabitants.
He has under his direction thirty clerks.  He was not long in demonstrating that
the trust reposed in him was well placed, for his ability, keen discrimination,
sound judgment and executive force would do credit to the administration of a
man many years his senior.  Colonel Lamping is connected with the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Woodmen of
the World, and as a citizen and a soldier he has made a most praiseworthy
record, his life work well deserving a place in the history of his adopted
county.
     
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Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in December 2006 by Diana Smith.

Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.