Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-04-11
FIFTY YEARS HERE
Capt. George Lamont Celebrates
Semi. Centennial as a
Resident.
ONE OF PIONEERS OF RIVER
Having Represented the Diamond
10 Line at This Point
Since 1874.

Capt. George Lamont today celebrat-
ed the 50th anniversary of his resi-
dence in Rock Island He came to
this city from LaSalle, Ill, April II,
reaching this city at o'clock in the
afternoon on the Chicago & Rock ISL
and railway. With the exception OF
three years. Capt. Lamont has been
engaged in steamboat supply business
and in other capacities connected with
river traffic during all of the 80 years
he has been a resident of Rock Island.
For 81 years he has been the agent OF
the Diamond Joe line steamers at this
pert.
The captain was born IN Alabama.
in 1888, at South Port, now known as
Sheffield. When 10 years of age ne
removed with his parents to St. Louis.
and few years later to Glasgow. Mo.
The family spent a short time at
Brunswick, Mo, and then settled at
Rockport. In 1874 the family home
was washed down the river by a flood
OF the Missouri, and the family then
made their home at Brownsville, Mo
Began SteamboatInE In IS4S
1t was in 1S4S that Capt. Lamont be-
gan his career on a steamboat In that
year he secured employment on the
steamer Wyandott, under Capt Pat
rick You're, the father of James You're.
formerly of this city. Capt Lamont's
duties were to work in the cabin, par
ucularly to polish the knives used at
the table. He was promoted in line of
service on the steamer, and continued
on the st. Louis packet steamer until
1851, when he removed to La Sale,
Ill. There he and a brother engaged
in the steamboat supply business. In
1853 the river business on the Illinois
river was almost ruined by the adj
vent of the Illinois Central, the Chi
cago & Rock Island and the Chicago
4 Alton railroads. Capt. Lamont then
sold out the supply business, and fol-
a year and half was employed as a
railroad brakeman and fireman. In the
spring of 1855 he decided to remove to
Rock Island.
Supplies Boats with Meat.
He at once engaged in the steam
boat supply business in this city. but
in 1857 he sold out to Henry Dart. the
originator of the large wholesale house
OF Henry Darts Sons. In 1858 he Sc
cured contracts to supply the river
boats with meat. and continued in
this business until 1869. when he en-
tered a partnership with Henry Carse
in the bottling business under the
name of Carse & Lamont short
time after, Mr.. Carse sold out his in
terest in the firm to John Ohlweiler;
the firm name becoming Lamont &
Ohlweiler. After Capt. Lamont had
been in the bottling business for three
years, he sold his interest to Mr..
CaTse, who after selling his interest
to Mr.. Ohlweiler had gone east. The
bottling works then went under the
of Carse e Ohlweiler,
and Capt Lamont became the agent
of the Diamond Joe line steamers in
1874. He has held that Office since
that time.
George Henry Here n Half Century.
George Henry yesterday celebrated
the 50th anniversary of his advent to
Rock Island. he. having preceded
Capt. Lamont by one day. Mr.. Henry
came to Rock Island from New York
City He shortly afterwards went to
Carbon Cliff, where he was employed
number of years. II is interesting
to note that both of these men who
have been a half century in this city
are democrats, and have always taken
an active part in the party's affairs in
this city.