Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1911-03-17
GEO. W. VlNTON AT REST.
Former Granville Man Dies at
Moline, H., after four Weeks
Illness

The following is taken from the
Moline Daily Dispatch of recent date:
George w. Vinton, citizen of Moline
since 1855, man who saw Moline grow
from village to its present size and
Importance, and one who was himself
factor for many years in its growth and
development, is dead.
He passed peacefully away at $3.50
Second avenue. He had been dying for
probably thrty-six hours, after having
been confined to his bed for four weeks. /
Mr.. Vinton, who was a native of
late John Deere, had entered his 18th ,
year. He was 76 December last. |
His daughter, Mrs. T. Lee. Trimble, of
Chicago, who had been here to spend
the Christmas holidays with him had
returned to her home. She was sum-
moned again yesterday, and she arrived
at 10 p. M, an hour and half after her
fathers death Of the ten children of
Mr.. Vinton's parents only two sur
vive, Albert F. Vinton of this city,
and John A. Vinton of Granville, Vt.
Numerous nephews and neices of Mr..
Vinton survive. He also leaves his
daughter, Mary Vinton Trmble of
Chicago, and grandson cher SOM
George Vinton Burkhardt, now l 7 years
old; also Mr.. Vinton leaves the widow
of his deceased son, Minnie T. Vinton,
of the Moline domestic science school.
Mr.. Vinton retired from active bust
ness some twenty years ago. For the
last several years he had been failing
in health. At the age of Is he was
graduated at Randolph academy in his
native state. Before coming west he
engaged in teaching for a half dozen
terms. In 1865 he went to the territory
> of Minnesota and took up the car
penter's trade. Here also he located
= land for which the government had
+ given his father a warrant in return for
n services endered in the war of 1912.
He did not, however, tarry long in
, NllllltSOld, CODllllB W NlOlllt III lflb ldl
of the same year, 1855. He entered
>, the employ of his uncle, Mr.. Deere, anc
he remained with the company fol
thirty years, travelling from ocean tC
ocean establishing agencies and doing
general business for the great pillow
y works.
u In the early sos he temporarily re-
IL moved to Burlington, Iowa, where he
j erected the Burlington Wheel com
pany's works, and was interested in the
business for some time. While either
n of Burlington he served as alderman ir
u" the city council, and during his term the
, city hall was built. He returned tC
" Moline in 1887.
- For number of years Mr.. Vntor
vi was a steadfast republican in politics
le At one time he was a candidate in tina
. party for the lieutenant governorship
! In 1872, when Horace Greeley was run
ming for president, he identified him
10 self-With the democratic party Fo
four years he was chairman of tn
democratic county committee, and il
1872 he was elected to the Legislature a
=. minority representative.
81 He was made chairman of the hous
n committee on public charities, state in
lie stitutions and militia. He introduced
w. bill for the establishment of an insan
hospital west of the Illinois river
7s This hospital, now the Watertown hos
ut pital, was in due course located in thi
TT county.
He also introduced tho hill aDnronri q I
. ing a million dollars for the World
lie Fair of 1898, $500 for general ex
US penses and the other $50, 900 for tn
50 woman's building. The state board o
70 agriculture made him manager of tn
:: Illinois building during the exposition
III After his return home he was appointe
I'd deputy collector of internal revenue 70
is this (the PEORIA district.
40 Fraternaly he was connected wit
~ the Masonic order and the Knights G
el Pythias.