Washington County Biographies



Part of the Wisconsin Biographies Project



William George

William George, editor and publisher of the "Washington County Republican"; was born in Rumney, N. H., June 22, 1840; when a mere child, moved with his parents to Lowell, Mass., where he resided till 1857, receiving his education in the schools of that city; came to Waukesha in 1857, where he received his first tuition in the printer's art in the "Democrat office"; was there six months; next engaged in the Waukesha "Freeman" office, where he remained till 1861; then removed to Milwaukee and engaged in the office of the Milwaukee "Sentinel"; after serving four months, he enlisted in the 5th W. V. I., Co. B; served with honor during the following three years, participating in all the engagements in which his regiment was engaged; took part in the Peninsular campaign under McClellan; at the battle of the Wilderness, under Grant, May, 1864, he was wounded on the second day's fight, and was permanently disabled; received an honorable discharge, and returned to Milwaukee and entered the office of the "Evening Wisconsin" as a compositor, where he remained till 1874; came to West Bend in that year and bought into the West Bend "Republican," ultimately becoming its largest shareholder; in July, 1876, he moved the office to Hartford and changed its name to the "Washington County Republican," and has continued its publication to this date; this is the only Republican paper of the county, and has won the confidence of the party. He was married, Jan. 1, 1867, to Mary M. Barnes, of Brookfield, Wis.; they have two living children-Bertie, aged 9, and Rollin, aged 7.

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