An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893

JESSE W. GEORGE, one of the respected pioneers of the Northwest territory, was
born in Morgan county. Ohio, November 11, 1835. His father, Presley George, was
a native of Virginia, where his ancestry settled prior to the Revolutionary war
and took active part in that memorable conflict. Presley George moved to Ohio
about 1820 and engaged in farming, subsequently marrying Miss Mahala Nickerson,
a native of Massachusetts and of Puritan stock. Mr. George followed farming in
Ohio up to 1851, when, with his wife and three sons, Hugh N., Jesse W. and M. C.
George, he started for Oregon. The first stage was by steamer down the Ohio and
up the Missouri river to a little town called Weston, seven miles above Fort
Leavenworth. There they purchased their prairie outfit, consisting of two
wagons, ten yoke of oxen, a number of cows and two American mares. They were
accompanied by several families from Ohio and their entire train numbered about
seventy-five people. The journey was without particular incident, and very
successfully accomplished to The Dalles. There the families shipped by water to
Portland, the young men crossing the mountains with the stock. It being late in
the fall they were overtaken by a snow storm, and with no feed for the cattle,
already in weakened condition, many of the animals died from hunger and
exposure. They got through with seven yoke of oxen, five cows and both mares,
the horses being very valuable in that early day. Proceeding to Portland the
families united and Mr. George pushed up the valley to Linn county, and passed
the winter near Washington Butte, where they found a little log cabin, about
twelve feet square. Mrs. George was soon taken sick and Hugh became cook for the
family, besides teaching school five miles distant, walking back and forth
morning and evening. Jesse found employment at hewing timber two miles distant,
but was on the ground at daylight and continued as long as he could see,
receiving therefor one bushel of wheat per day. The nearest mill was thirty
miles distant, making a three-days journey with a team, and the flour was so
black that in the present day of bolted flour it wouldn't be considered fit to
eat, and yet during the large emigration of 1852 flour sold at twenty-five cents
per pound, wheat $6 per bushel, and the most remunerative labor was splitting
rails at six "bits" per hundred and board yourself. In the spring of 1852 Mr.
George took up his donation claim of 320 acres, and there resided up to 1875,
when he moved to Portland. Jesse W. remained at home up to his twenty-fifth
year, securing such educational advantages as the country afforded. He was
married in 1860, to Miss Cassandra Eckler, who came to Oregon with her brothers
and sisters in 1853. Her mother died while she was yet in infancy, and her
father on the trip across the plains. After his marriage Mr. George settled upon
his own farm near Lebanon, where he engaged extensively in grain-farming and was
actively connected with local affairs. He served for several years as trustee of
Santiam Academy at Lebanon, and as a Republican took an active interest in
political affairs. In May, 1872, he made a trip to Seattle and was impressed
with prospects of the young city. Returning to his farm he arranged his business
and with his family and team, drove to Portland, thence went by steamer down the
river to the mouth of the Cowlitz, and thence drove to Seattle, having nice
weather and a delightful trip. 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 the projection of the
first railroad from Seattle, being one of the committee to secure right of way
from Seattle up the White river valley to Puyallup Station. During later years
he has acted in a similar capacity for the Union Pacific railroad company and at
present is engaged in work of the same nature for the Seattle and Montana
railroad company. In July, 1884, he was appointed by President Arthur as United
States Marshal for the Territory and served until after the change of
administration. During the great fire of June, 1889, he suffered a considerable
loss of property, but with the spirit of enterprise which had characterized so
many of his actions, he at once set about re-building and has since constructed
on the corner of South Second and Main street a fine six-story building, which
forms one of the notable structures of the city. Mr. and Mrs. George have four
children: Janet (now Mrs. W.H. Llewellyn), Amy, Mark and Hugh. Socially Mr.
George affiliates with the Masonic order, being a member of the blue lodge,
chapter, commandery and thirty-second degree, Scottish rite. At present he is
President of the Washington Pioneer Association. Mr. George is a man of sound
business judgment and firmness of character, which, united to his high
integrity, make him a well recognized power in the community.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 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.