Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-03
George L. Ynshburn.

George l., son of Charles Washburn, ESQ.,, of
this city, departed this life yesterday morning,
the I'd of May, in the thirty-sixth year of his
age. The circle of friends who will read the an
nouncement of his death with the sense of per-
sonal bereavement may not be large; indeed, it
includes but a few beyond his own kindred.
This, however, is not owing to any msanthropy
or any lack of those qualities which naturally
endear one to his acquaintance. 1t is owing
rather TO certain peculiarities of mind and of
habit, together with the hard struggle which he
has had to maintain for years against pulmo.
nary disease.
Mr.. Washburn was hardly of age before his
mind became intensely active in the line of me-
chanical inventions. Though he was not
trained and practced mechanic, he had acquired
n taste for and knowledge of mechanical
principles, which enabled his quick mind to per-
ceive with great readiness the difficulties to be
overcome, and the methods of overcoming them,
whether in the improvement of old devices or in
devices new and original. To the few friends
whom he took into his confidence in the pro.
cesses of his inventions, as well as to all who
critically examined the matured products, he
appeared to be a mechanical genius. When,
thirteen or fourteen years ago. he exhibited to
those who visited his Office a working model
of machine for turning clay into brick
with the same facility with which the
pulp of rags is turned into paper, who
examined it and its operation without
admiration both OF the invention and of the in
ventorP To this he added in the course of years
numerous other things alike Characteristic and
worthy of bis youthful and promising ingenuity;
such as, not to mention those which were laid
aside for more convenient opportunities to ma
ture them, his breech-loading gun which ought
to have yielded him a fortune, his steam engine
for light work, already SO well known, and the
Washburn steam-condensing pump which he
has of late been eugaged in manufacturing, and
for which there were numerous orders on his
books at the time of his death.
MIR. Washburn saw his success in the future,
and patiently waited for it. Had he been less
of an enthusiast in invention and more of one
in turning inventions into money, he might
have been reasoned already wealthy man.
But, like one who esteemed achievement in in
vention above that wealth. he passed from one
thing to another, and perhaps, but for the
necessity of some returns for the expense of ex-
2erimentng, would have gone ON contentedy
without manufacturing for the market. His
luNeullNO uldlu WAC NapdOlSOl lDduy
men and great deal of capital continually in
useful experiment. And this is TO be set down
to bis credit, as it is and will be by those who
appreciate his intellectual ability, although the
practical world is accustomed to estimate genius
only by its pecuniary rewards. But though he
has passed away without having realized the
earthly rewards of his inventive labors, he has
left matured results which will give fame to his
name, and be the means of wealth to those who
shall enter into his labors.
Notwithstanding Mr.. Washburn's absorbing
interest in his chosen pursuits, he was not un.
mindful of those interests which connect the
present world with the future. With mind of
singular purity even from his childhood, he re-
emoered his Creator in the days of his youth.
nnoago tne intellectual predominated over the
e ,an 10 his experience, religion was no
less true and Indispensable and dear TO him as a
principlcd life, renewing and sanctfying, than Ii
would nave been had bis experience been char
acteriLed by less of detection aud more of feel
ing. No one could converse with him ON The
subject without discovering the evidence Of
acute and profound and accustomed thought.