Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-03-12
George willard.

Lne bin lUHl,t hlleT pfutIHCLe0 AMI pain.
ful illness, GEoRoE WILLARD, In the 6sth
year Of his age. The deceased WAS ma
tive Of Holland Patent Oneida Co., n. Y.
His business life was begun in general
country store IN Whitestown, In his ma
tive County, as q clerk, in his 10th year-
1928. This position he occupied until
1881, when he removed to Ashtabula, and
for five years filed the place Of Clerk in
the post Office and store Of A. 9. Hubbard.
whose obituary was given in these col
umns, only last week. In April, 1896,
the deceased became associated ~ business
with Richard Roberts, under the firm
name OF Roberts & Willard. They occu-
pied the north half OF the old double
brick store, so long occupied by him, built
by H. j. Reese, and which gave place to
the present, new, Willard Block. His
business was general merchandi zing.
This business relation was Of short dura-
tion, rs by the death OF Mr.. Roberts, after
six months, Mr.. Willard became sole pro-
| prietOr. It was at this time that the south
half OF the building WIS filled with stock
Of dry goods, and became part Of the es-
taDlishment. In 1874 the firm was again
changed TO that Of Geo. Willard & Co., by
the admission Of s. B. Wells, Esq, as
partner, and general produce was added
as component part Of the business. In
1850, another addition was made to the
firm in the person Of Henry Griswod, and
the firm was again changed to that Of
Willard, Wells & Co. In 1855, both,
Messrs. Wells and Griswold, withdrew, and
Mr.. Willard took entire management of
the business under the firm name Of Geo.
| Willard.
The business now became extensive, and
was spread over various departments Of en-
terprise, but the first purchase Of real estate
was the plat Of ground fronting Main and
Park streets upon which the old store stood,
and which Is the site of the new, that de-
signed TO perpetuate his name. This pur-
chase was in 1888.
The term Of his business career in Ash
tabula, embracing the preceding five years
of his clerksLip, is little less than half
century. Beside his mercantile business
proper, the deceased had been largely en-
gagged in the commerce Of the lakes. He
had an ownership-miuor or controlling
of some five or six vessels, and one-the
Julia Willard--the finest OF the fleet, was
built by him. 1t will be seen, therefore,
that his life has been busy one. Beside
this, however, he was identified with the
management of village affairs, both as
Mayor and member of Council, as we'll as
in those Of the township, as one of its
trustees, and no enterprise for the growth
and prosperity Of the locality, was organ
lied or sustained, without his interest, in
| fluence and cooperation.
The first bank incorporated-the Farm
ers'-had the benefit of his connection and
direction from the organization. The
Central Plank Road Co.-an enterprise of
great Importance in its day, to the thrift
of the place, was foster child of his from
an early day. So it was with the railroad
enterprises terminating at the lake. He
was closely identified, for years, as an Of
ficer of st. Peters church, and his counsel
and sound discretion looked we'll after It's
peace and welfare. In word-he has
been one of the foremost citizens of Ashta-
bula. Notwithstanding the extent and
intimacy of his business connections, his
liberality, honesty and integrity stands
free from spot or accusation, and his
memory is honored and revered.
On the 10th of September, 1888, he was
united in marriage with Julia Francis,
daughter of Err w. and Sarah Slowson
Mead, then residents of Ashtabula. This
union left no issue, and the family leaves
no blood successor. In politics, Mr. Will
lard might be classod as a conservative
Republican.
The funeral took place at st. Peters
Episcopal church at two o clock yesterday
afternoon, the service being conducted by
the Rev. DR.. Moore, of Oberlin, late rector
of this church. The pail bearers were
Messrs. f. Carlisle j. P. Robertson, ]. B.
Strong, John Booth, o. H. Fitch and L.
| Tyler Out OF respect for the deceased all
of the stores and banks, and nearly all of
the business establishments on Main street
were closed from two to four o'clock, which
gave the street the appearance of Sun
day.
THE SOLDIERS monument at Geneva
has now been completed, and is credita-
BILE work as well in design as in execution.
1t is further a credit to the patriotism and
enterprise of the town. 1t is described by
the Express as follows.
1t is in what is known as the "New
Greek Style" composed of Berea Sand
Stone, and the best ~, s. Bronze, is used
for the statues and ornaments. The di-
mentions of the monument are, sixteen
feet in width at the base, by thirty-twO feet
in height. The main shaft Is flanked, on
either side, by two pedestals, on which
stand two bronze statues, both of which
are life size, being six feet and three inches
in height On the east pedestal stands a
soldier, with a shOuldered musket, in the
uniform of volunteer of the late war
while on the other side stands the figure
of sailor, leaning ON his sword, Consid-
erable importance is attached to the statue
of the sailor, from the fact that il is near
| ly life sculpture of an officer OF the
school ship, Minnesota, and who has been
| for forty years sailor In the United
| States navy. He is reported 10 be one of
| the greatest characters in the navy. The
statues were sculptured by the well-known
artist David Richards of New York, and
| uarp cast in pOtUariq hronza foundry The