An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 330-331
	
	
	GEORGE W. KUMMER, one of the representative business men of Seattle, was
born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, July 6, 1851, a son of Jacob Kummer, a native
of Berne, Switzerland. The father removed to the United States with his parents
in childhood, locating in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he was reared and
educated. After reaching years of maturity, he carried on a prosperous business
in farm produce, shipping from Allentown and Philadelphia to New York. Through a
dishonest partner, he lost a large amount of money, which so prayed upon his
mind and so shattered his health that he never fully recovered. Mr. Kummer
married Miss Rebecca Huntsburger, a native of Virginia. In 1854 the family
removed to Summit county, Ohio, where he operated a small weaving factory.
	George W., the subject of this sketch, remained with his parents to the age
of eight years, when he was apprenticed to a cattle man, and for three years
followed that occupation through western Ohio and eastern Indiana. At the age of
eleven years he was apprenticed to a farmer, his wages being paid in corn to his
father, and he received plenty of work but few privileges. >From the effects of
hard labor his health was so broken at the age of nineteen years that six
physicians pronounced his recovery as hopeless. With indomitable spirit and
perseverance Mr. Kummer then went to Akron, Ohio, and applied for a position
with the Beacon Publishing Company, entering their office as printer's devil, at
$3 per week, paying the same amount for meals at a colored man's restaurant, and
sleeping on a table in the publishing office. By extra work he was soon enabled
to make a little money, which he invested in books and, by attending a night
school, he thus began his education. By hard and incessant study he advanced
rapidly, and at the end of his second year with that company was asked to go
into the editorial room as reporter. Mr. Kummer held that position three years,
which was followed by three years as bookkeeper in the business office, three
years as foreman of the composing room, ten years as city editor of The Akron
Daily Beacon and later as managing editor. While holding the latter positions he
was also correspondent for eleven of the leading daily newspapers of the East,
furnishing and wiring an average of 10,000 words per month during ten years.
	With his multitudinous duties, Mr. Kummer again suffered from ill health,
and in the fall of 1889 he sought a change of climate in Portland, Oregon, where
he acted as business manager of the Pacific Christian Advocate for five months.
He then came to Seattle, to accept the position of Secretary and Treasurer of
the Puget Sound Fire Clay Company, which opened a new field for study and
research. Quickly foreseeing the possibilities, he entered zealously into the
study of chemistry and the analysis of clay formations, and with the
organization of the Denny Clay Company, April 1, 1892, he became one of the
incorporators, and was duly elected Secretary and General Manager. The company
own their own coal and clay mines at Kummer and Taylor, stations on the Columbia
and Puget Sound Railroad, transporting their clay to their factory five miles
south of Seattle, on Dwamish river. They have a large and extensive
establishment for the grinding, mixing and pressing of their clay products,
employing 150 hands in the several departments, which are heated by steam,
lighted by electricity and are very complete in every detail and appointment.
Their salt-glazed vitrified sewer pipe varies in size from two to twenty-four
inches in diameter, with a restraining force almost equal to iron piping. The
flint fire clay has a tenacity unexcelled by clays in the United States, and
they are producing fire brick, fire proofing, paving brick, building blocks,
terra cotta dry-pressed and pottery in quantities and with rapidity to meet the
requirements of the Northwest.
	Mr. Kummer was married in Akron, Ohio, in March, 1875, to Miss Jennie
Robinson, a native of Wisconsin. They have three children: Ruby G., John A., and
George W. Socially, Mr. Kummer affiliates with I.O.O.F. He is a Trustee of the
Merchants' and Manufacturers' Exchange, and is a man thoroughly respected for
his ability, perseverance and sterling business principles.
	
	
Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer
	
	
	
	
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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.