The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-09-14
in MEMORIAM.
Colonel George Colt.

At his residence, 52l West Oliver street
on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 1900, after briel
illness, occurred the death of prominent
citizen of Owosso, Col. George Colt, aged
80 years.
George Colt was born in Pittsfeld
Mass, May 10, 1907, and was educated al
the celebrated Pttsfield Academy. On
leaving school his ambition took him to
New York City, where through the influ.
ence of family friends he found employ
ment as clerk in shipping Office, and
was also introduced into wealthy families,
giving him the opportunity of learning
the conventionalities of city life among
the fashionable and wealthy inhabitants.
His acquaintance in New York with sew
eral owners of large tracts of wild land in
Florida and the glowing descriptions of
| this wonderful land of flowers by Col.
Humphrey, Indian agent for the Semi
noles, completely captured his youthful
fancy, and an unconquerable desire to see
this beautiful land took possession of him.
Accordingly these land owners furnished
him with letters OF introduction to some
of the best families in Florida, among
them one to Col. Fatio, a very prominent
man, and the young enthusiast started
on the coveted journey.
Everything delighted him-the hospit-
able reception he received from the high
bred families to whom. he bore letters of
introduction-his trip up the lovely St.
Johns river, and the lonely ride through
the dark forests to the Indian agency
all took such a hold upon him that on
his return to New York nothing would
satisfy him but return to that country.
After few months he returned to Flori-
da and engaged in various enterprises OF
trade. His frequent journeyings took
him into the society of friends to whom
he had been introduced, and in progress
of events he took bride from the Fatio
family. Having married, he settled down
to the culture OF an orange grove, and a
prosperous future seemed assured, but
the bright prospects of happy life were
cut down by the fatal frost of Feb. l,
1895, which blighted and clouded the
remainder of his life.
The following autumn was the opening
of the Seminole war, which spread terror
to the white inhabitants. Mr.. Colt re-
moved his family to Pittsfeld, Mass, for
few months, and on returning to his
home on the st. Johns river the war had
made fearful progress. The Dallas mas
sacre threw dismay to every one ON the
river and the home at New Switzerland
was abandoned after securing some val
tables. Subsequently the house was
stripped OF everything and burned to the
ground, with others in that locality, and
some of his neighbors were killed and
scalped. The inhabitants sought protec-
ton with Gen. Scott's troops. Mr.. Colt
was attached to the quartermaster' de-
partment and did duty several months,
messing with the officers. Gen. Scott,
Gen. McComb, the hero of the battle of
Lake Champlain in 1914, and other dis
tinguished officers were there. He also
had command of company armed for
protection, and was enrolled in the vol
unteer company stationed at st. Angus
tine under Gen. Putnam, where he was
detailed for service, and was mustered
into the United States service to do duty
at st. Augustine as city guard.
The destruction of his home and the
unsafe condition of the country resulted
in Mr.. Colts purchasing a coffee estate
in Cuba with thirty negroes to work it,
four miles south of Cardenas. He imme-
diatley applied himself to the study of
the Spanish language. His family came
OH and they occupied the estate seven
years, improving it greatly, when threat
ned rouble from the negro population
and other unfavorable circumstances
made it undesirable for home and he |
sold out and moved back to Florida.
Two years later his beloved wife was
taken from him by death and Mr.. Colt |
returned to New York and engaged in |
the manufacture Of Chemicals at No. 81 |
Maiden Lane, pursuing this business sew
eral years. In August, 1858, Major Bush,
an old friend of his childhood, proposed |
to him to purchase one half of his mill |
property in Shiawassee, Michigan At
that time it was expected that the d. &
M. railroad would pass through Shiawas-
seetown. The prospect seemed fsttering
and Mr.. Colt accepted and came on to
Shiawasseetown in September Later
the mill was destroyed by fire. -
In Shiawassee the marriage Of Mr.. Colt
and Miss Elizabeth Kimball took place
Sept. %, 1868, and in June, 1872, the fam
lily removed to Owosso, which has since
been their home. Mr.. Colt and his esti-
mable family have always enjoyed the