Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-02-01
r RMER oTTUMWAN, PROM.
NENT IN EASTERN BUSINESS
CIRCLES, PASSES AWAY.
WAS MAYOR OF TOLEDO
Political Career Was Fruitful of Re.
peated Honors at Hands Of
His FelIoWmen; Mother
Is in the West

Guy G. Major, a native Of Ottumwa,
twice mayor OF Toledo, Ohio, and a
man prominent in the oil industry in
the east, died yesterday afternoon at
p o'clock in New York city. He had
been i'll two weeks with pneumonia.
ITelegraphic word from Mrs. Major
was received by Ottumwa friends last
night.
Mrs. Major had been with him sew.
eral days during his illness in New
York and on Monday, when his symp.
toms became alarming, his son and
fed and left Immediately for New
York City, but did not arrive there I'M:
til their father had passed away.
Mr.. Major will be remembered by
numerous Ottumwans. He was the
son of Mrs. Maria S. Major, corner
Fourth and Wapello streets, who is
spending the winter in Los Angeles.
he was born in this city October 10,
1859, and was therefore at the time
of his death just trifle more than
So years and 3 months old Surviving
are his wife, two children and his
mother. .........
The early education of Mr. Major
was, gained in the grade schools of
Ottumwa. Later he attended Grin
nell college. His first employment
was as machinist apprentice in the
Johnston Ruffler Co., at "a per week.
He mastered the trade during the
three years of his employment. He
then went to Hamilton, Ohio, where he
was employed by the Niles Tool
Works.
He was married to Miss Harriet
Leonard at her Massachusetts home
and Immediately after moved to
Toledo and started in the linseed oil
business under the firm name of Tay-
lor & Major Oil Co. The first
honor at the hands of the Toledo
citizens conferred on Mr.. Major was
his selection as member of the board
of education. His splendid service in
this capacity was appreciated by his
fellows, who elevated him to the post
of mayor of Toledo. This office he
successfully filled for two terms of
two years each.
Wanted For Governor. ~
Mr. Major was at the expiration OF
prominently as one of the republican
III SoNCiAol VI oA1O. liz
would not permit his name to- come
before the state convention at Zanes-
vile. Within the past two years he
declined to run for mayor of Toledo
notwithstanding the fact that the re-
quest was backed up by petition
signed by 5000 republican voters.
He sold out his linseed oil business
in Toledo to the American Linseed
Oil Co.. some time ago. The Major
property was the best equipped that
the trust had ever acquired. and this
fact, coupled with the exceptional
successful business ability of Mr..
Major resulted in his being rendered
the presidency of the American Lin
seed Oil Co., at salary of $4,000 a
year. He held this post until the con-
troll of the company was acquired by
the Standard Oil Co., when he was
succeeded by Mr.. Gates, who was
prominently mentioned in the recent
Merritt controversy.
The GuysG. Major Oil Co., was then
formed, and Mr. Major was president
and general manager of it when he
died. His mill was one of the most
successful in the United States in the
production of linseed and castor oil,
importing all the seed used in the
manufacture of castor oil from the
Island of Java.