Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-10-04

W WV ~
GEO. B. BROwNER
goods, and who, being hard working peo-
pie, George was obliged to look out for
himself in the world at an early age. He
attended school until he was fourteen
years of age. when the family moved to
Rock Island and George went to work In
the old saw mill which was located where
the great c., r. l. & p round house now
stands. He worked hard from sunrise to
sunset, turning his small earnings in to
the support of the family every night and
then putting in his evenings studying and
reading ard improving his education by
those means which have made m any a
successful man who was denied in youth
the privileges of the advanced branches
Of common schooling. In 1850 he
commenced driving a street car on
the old Moline II Rock Island
horse railroad. and for five years he
pursued this avocation diligently and
faithfully. Indeed he made the longest
unhroken record ever made by a single
man in the cOmpany's employ. Il was
about this time that the full burden of
supporting large family fell upon
Georges shoulders and for five years he
put in fourteen to sixteen hours day,
and 800 days a year exposed to all kinds
of weather in order that his IA, her and
mother, brothers and sisters might
have the necessaries of life. 1t was his
fsithfulness here, together with his 20
lite and modest disposition. that attracted
the attention of not only John Warn
er, the president of the road, WHO priced
him more highly than any man in his ems
pioy. but also such men as Ex Mayors E P
Reynolds and Porter Skinner, who IN.
known to George himself. took an inter-
est in him, and Investigated his circum-
stances. The more they learned of him
the more they fixed him, and finally Mr..
Skinner took him off the car line and gave
him other employment. He worked for
hr. Skinner year, pursuing the same
industrious modest habits which had al
ways characterized his disposition, and
putting in his spare lime in reading and
study.
When the mail carrier system was es>
tablished in Rock Island in 1886.
il Was the same three men be-
fore mentioned who were the first to en-
dorse MIR. BrowneIs petition for
carrier-JOhn Warner, E P.
Reynolds and Porter Skinner. He was
appointed and in the two years that he
served proved one of the most efficient
! carriers on the force, In fact there was
general feeling of regret manifested by
residents on his route when he resigned
TO go into the grocery business on his own
account. Notwithstanding the demands
| upon him for nearly all his earnings be
managed by economy to lay aside por>
| ton from time to time and " as now ready
to establish himself in the business world.
The grocery firm of Danqusrd & Brow ner
was established but soon after Mr.. Dan
guard was obliged to retire because of
failing health. and his partner Mr. Brown
| er. purchased his interest and has con.
| Quoted the business since.
Last spring MIR. Browner was nominal.
ed on the democratic ticket for assistant
supervisor of Rock Island township and
in the election that followed he not only
led the democratic ticket, but had large
majority over every Other candidate on
either ticket His vote was 1927, that
of the next highest being Conrad Schnei
der. republican, whose total was 1,377
| Browner's run was the sensation of the
day and the ARGUS at the time said;
The popularity of Mr.. Geo. B. Browner
candidate for supervisor. Was a remsrks
bic characteristic of the election. Con
sidering the fact that it was Mr.. Brown
eI S first political canvass and his age. tn,
| result is at once complimentary to hin
and gratifying to bis frit nds, as well 81
phenomenal. The favor with which hi
name was received was spontaneous in III
nature. and the vote he received not onll
leads every candidate of either party OF
the township ticket, but ne has the larges
majority ever given township nominee
But Mr.. Browner took the complimen
modestly and went right along about hi
business in a manner that still furthe
won the admiration of those who knew
him.
His nomination for the still more re
sponsible position of county treasurer
thus evincing still greater confidence Il
him by his friends. was received in tn
SAN" manly way by the nominee. though
he realizes to the fullest degree the highe
honor that his friends are determined t
confer upon him. He has the still fur
Their satisfaction of knowing. too, tina
not only have the wor King men enliste'
themsels es in support OF his candidac,
as onesf their number. but the best elias
of representative citizens of Rock Islant
irrespective of party are exerting them
! sely in his behalf.