JOHN L. GEORGE, a prosperous farmer of Gilpin township, was born in Burrell township, Armstrong Co., Pa., Oct. 5, 1859, being a son of John George and grandson of Leonard George.

Leonard George came from Westmoreland county, Pa., to Armstrong county about 1830, settling in Burrell township, where he bought a farm which he operated until his death, dying on his homestead. His remains are buried at the Brick Church in Burrell township. The maiden name of his wife was Barbara Gongaware, and she bore him children as follows: Jacob died in Plum Creek township; Philip died in Gilpin township; Peter died in Plum Creek township; John lives in Leechburg; Samuel died at Leechburg; Joseph lives in Indiana county, Pa.; William died in Burrell township; Lewis is living in Plum Creek township. Jacob, Philip, Peter and Lewis all served as soldiers during the Civil war.

John George, father of John L. George, was born in Burrell township April 10, 1832, and in early life was a farmer, but later became a stonemason, working in Leechburg. He now lives retired. He married Barbara J. Shaffer, daughter of John and Barbara (Sowers) Shaffer, and she passed away in May, 1909, and is buried in Evergreen cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. John George were the parents of the following children: Margaret, wife of James Morrow; John L.; Albert E.; William L.; Isaac E.; Herman M.; Edward E., deceased; and Helfrick K., deceased.

John L. George attended the schools of Bethel and Plum Creek townships, and Leechburg and Elderton Academies, and for nine years taught school in Armstrong county. For eight terms he was teaching in Gilpin township, and one term in Plum Creek township. In 1882 he began farming. Setting to work to improve his property, he has developed a very fine farm, which he devotes to fruit growing and stock raising, having met with remarkable success in these lines.

On Sept. 13, 1882, Mr. George married Lydia A. Klingensmith, daughter of Peter and Sarah A. (Shuster) Klingensmith. Mr. and Mrs. George have no children of their own, but they reared a nephew, Ivan W. Ellenberger, now a prosperous business man of Zanesville, O. In politics Mr. George is a Democrat, and has served very acceptably as tax collector, school director for six years, during which time he was president of the board, and justice of the peace in Gilpin township for five years. For years he has been a consistent member of the Forks Lutheran Church, and served on the building committees when the new parsonage and churches were erected. He has been a member of the church council for twenty-five years. For twenty-two years he has been a teacher in the Sunday school, and for fourteen of these years was superintendent, being well fitted to instruct the young and present Biblical subjects in the way to impress them upon their minds.

Source: Pages(s) 708, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed October 1998 by Neil G. Anderson for the Armstrong County Beers Project
Published 1998 by the Armstrong County Pennsylvania Genealogy Project

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