Mount Mora Cemetery - Saint Joseph, Missouri

� 2008, Mount Mora Burial Records

Record Last Updated On: 6/4/2021
Name: Harry Louis George
Death Date: FEB/23/1923	Interment Date: FEB/26/1923		Birth Date: NOV/2/1848
Age at Death: 74y3m21d	Cause of Death: Acute Pulmonary Edema
Location at Death: St. Joseph, Missouri
Physical Location at Death: 822 North 9th street
Sex: M	Nativity: American		Ethnicity: Caucasion
Occupation:COMMISSION MERCHANT Collector of one of the country's largest Native American Relics collections, on display at the St. Joseph Museum.
Military Branch:	Military Rank:	War Service:
Other Special Distinctions/Memberships:
Child of: Joseph George & Harriet Mulford
Spouse of: Margaret McDonald
Mother of:
Father of: Marjorie George, Harriette Jean George Arnold
Other Known Relatives:
Brief Biography: Obituary: St. Joseph News-Press - Feb 24, 1923 HARRY L. GEORGE DEAD, HAD BEEN RESIDENT OF ST. JOSEPH FIFTY YEARS Widely Known as a Collector of Indian Relics and a Traveler. He Was Oldest Past Master of Charity Lodge, A. F. and A.M. Harry L. George, textile broker, for more than fifty years a resident of St. Joseph, extensive traveler and widely known collector of Indian relics, died late yesterday afternoon at St. Josephs Hospital. He was seventy-four years old. The cause of death was heart disease, his ailment being aggravated by a severe cold he had caught about a week ago. He was a member and regular attendant of the First Presbyterian Church, but was unable to attend the services last Sunday on account of his condition. He came downtown the following three days and collapsed while downtown Wednesday. That evening his condition became critical and he was removed to the hospital, where he gradually sank. The family home is at 822 North Ninth street. Mr. Georges health had been failing rapidly the last six months. Harry Louis George was born Nov. 2, 1848 in Philadelphia, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph George. He started in to learn the dry goods business in Philadelphia when he was a boy. Through a business associate in Philadelphia of the late R. L. McDonald, Mr. George obtained the position as manager of the notions department of R. L. McDonald & Co., wholesale dry goods firm, and came to St. Joseph to assume his duties in 1869. Became a Textile Broker: In 1897 when McDonald discontinued the wholesale business and became a manufacturing industry, under its present name of the R.L. McDonald Manufacturing Company, Mr. George engaged in the textile brokerage business. He had had his office in the Saxon building, Fourth and Francis streets, the last ten years. Mr. George was prominent in church work, civic and patriotic affairs, and Masonic circles. He had one of the finest collections of Indian relics in the country. He had devoted much attention and many years to building up his collection of curios, and in getting them he visited Indian tribes throughout the United Stated and Canada. Many of his relics, which included a great assortment of baskets, bead work and other articles made by the Indians, are very rare and valuable. Mr. George also had traveled extensively and had been in every state in the United States. It has been Mr. Georges fondest hope to have a museum in which to house his collections, as well as other curio collections in the city. At an election a year ago a proposition to vote bonds for a museum building was defeated. Mr. George and others interested in the movement did not give up hope, however, and intently they formed a museum association to keep alive the idea of erecting a suitable building for relics. Half a Century a Mason: Mr. George had been a Mason more than a half century and was a charter member of Charity lodge, No. 331 A.F. & A. M., organized in 1870 and its oldest living past worshipful master. He held that office about 1860, a year earlier than when Lon Hardman was worshipful master. He also belonged to Mitchell chapter No. 14, Royal Arch Masons. Hugh de Payens Commandry No. 4, Knights Templar; St. Joseph Council No. 9, Royal and Select Masters; St. Joseph Consistory No. 4, Scottish Rite Masons, and Moila Temple of Shriners. Mr. George was of distinguished lineage and traced his ancestry back to pre-Revolutionary War days: He was for many years active in St. Joseph Chapter, Sons of the Revolution, and was the chapters president ten or fifteen years ago. He also had been an officer in the state society. In the First Presbyterian Church he was an elder and a great worker. He had endured himself to members and attendants by stationing himself at the entrance to the church virtually every Sunday to welcome those attending the services. For years he was prominent in the old Commercial Club, now the Chamber of Commerce, and he was the clubs secretary in 1906, and its president the succeeding two years. He was a director in the Auditorium Company, a member of the Elks and the St. Joseph Country Club, and at one time was president of the Benton Club. Notwithstanding his age, until the last several years he had been an ardent devotee of golf and was a familiar figure on the Country Club links. Mr. George did his bit during the World War, serving as food administrator for St. Joseph. Jan. 23, 1881, Mr. George married Miss Maggie B. McDonald, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. R.L. McDonald. Besides his widow, he is survived by two daughters, Miss Harriette George and Mrs. Frazer L. Ford, St. Joseph, and a sister, Mrs. W. P. Sutherland of Brooklyn, N.Y. Frazer Ford, president of the First National Bank, son-in-law of Mr. George, who is critically ill at his home on Lovers Lane, has not been apprised of Mr. Georges death. Mr. Fords condition was slightly improved today but is yet grave. The funeral will be Monday afternoon at 2:30 from the First Presbyterian Church. Dr. Bunyan McLeod officiating. Interment in Mount Mora Cemetery will be private. The family requests that flowers be omitted.
Epithet: Philatelic West, October 1915 edition: Because a small basket, purchased ten years ago from an Indian reservation, merely as a souvenir of his western trip, turned out to be a rare specimen, Harry L. George of St. Joseph, MO., wealthy broker, realized that the original Indian types of Industry and Art were rapidly passing, and he began his collection of specimens of the North American tribes handiwork which is recognized as one of the most complete private collections in the United States. The collection shows clearly to what almost unlimited uses the basket was put by uncivilized man. It was used for holding water, food and other precious objects or things in use in everyday life, for gathering articles of commerce and transporting them, for furniture and clothing.

Tombstone Material: N/A	Tombstone Shape: N/A		Tombstone Condition: N/A
Vault Type:	Burial Number: 9475
Mausoleum: N	Ashes: N
Other Relatives in Plot: Harriette Jean George Arnold (ashes), Margaret McDonald George
Lot Owner: H LGEORGE
Lot Location: NW1/2 1
Block Location: 10
Section/Range Location: A
GPS Coordinates:
Funeral Home: HEATON-BEGOLE
Funeral Home City/State: St. Joseph, Missouri
Cost of Interment: $10.00		Date Paid: 05/31/23

Photo(s):
Obit photo of Mr. Harry L George Courtesy Of: Mount Mora Board

Photo(s) of Tombstone:
Harry George Courtesy Of:Mt Mora Board

Other Photo(s):
Photo of Harry George on the cover of the Philatelic West_October,1915 Courtesy Of: Mount Mora Board Important artifact makes it way home, Part 1 Courtesy Of: Mount Mora Board Important Artifact finds its way Home_Part 2 Courtesy Of: Mount Mora Board

HARRY L. GEORGE DEAD, HAD BEEN RESIDENT OF ST. JOSEPH FIFTY YEARS

Widely Known as a Collector of Indian Relics and a Traveler. He Was Oldest Past Master of Charity Lodge, A. F. and A.M.