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George G. Washburn

1847 - 1934

George G. Washburn One Time Garnerite, Died Thurs. Mar. 22
Passed Away At Clear Lake Home; Interment At Harwarden, March 26

Special to Garner Leader and Signal

Ventura - George G. Washburn was born April 22, 1847, and died March 22, 1934, at Clear Lake, Ia. His age would have been 88 years, had he lived one more month.

He was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Washburn, whose ancestors came from England three generations before. He was born near Chicago, Ill., but his parents soon moved to Wattsburg, Penn., where they lived on a farm and conducted a store. He spent his youth and received his elementary education in Pennsylvania.

He was graduated from the Dixon Normal school in Dixon, Ill., and later took post graduate work at Drake university in Des Moines.

Mr. Washburn began his life work of teaching in Pennsylvania and carried on this work for fifty years. He taught in rural and city schools of Pennsylvania and Iowa, and was granted a first grade state certificate for life to teach in both states.

He was married June 27, 1893, to Emma L. Kluckhohn of Garner. They met at Hawarden, Iowa, where she was principal of the high school for three years, while he had the position as school superintendent. There they became members of the Congregational church and always maintained that membership.
 

Their first home was in Rock Valley, where he was school superintendent for six years. He then taught in Paullina, Garner, Klemme, and other Iowa schools. He served as instructor in many of the institutes which Iowa teachers were required to attend for summer sessions of eight weeks.

He went into business in Algona and later Ventura, where his health began to fail. Last May 7, he fell and fractured his hip, and from that time has been bedfast.

Mr. Washburn maintained a kindly interest in all of his students. He believed in them, and his philosophy of life was based on his desire to help them in every way he could. He was extremely interested in all scholastic pursuits.

He is survived by his wife, three daughters and one son. The son is Dr. B. E. Washburn, Seattle, Wash,; the daughters, Mrs. J. L. Emerson, Des Moines; Mrs. L. H. Snyder, Kansas City, Mo., and Miss Georgia Washburn, Ventura. He has three grandchildren. He was buried in Grace Hill cemetery at Hawarden as he felt that would be going back home.

Funeral services were held Monday morning at * o'clock at the U. B. church in Ventura, Rev. H. Derks officiating. L. Bless, E. Kahrs and H. Derks sang "Rock of Ages," "Jesus Saviour, Pilot Me," and "Shall We Gather at the River?". The funeral procession left immediately after the rituals for Hawarden.



source: Leader & Signal, Garner, Iowa, 28 Mar 1934, page 1, column 2

 

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George G. Washburn, early day principal of the Hawarden schools, died last Thursday at the home of his daughter at Ventura, Iowa, at the advanced age of nearly 88 years. He had not been in good health for several years and in May, 1933, suffered the fracture of his hip and ever since had been a great sufferer.

The body was brought here overland Monday afternoon for burial in Grace Hill cemetery beside the grave of his first wife. Rev. Clyde Clark, pastor of the Baptist church of this city, conducted a brief commitment service.

George G. Washburn was born near Chicago, Ill., April 22, 1846, and would have been 88 years of age had he lived one more month. He was the youngest of seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Washburn, whose ancestors came from England three generations before. As a small child, he accompanied his parents to Wattsburg, Pa., where they lived on a farm and conducted a store. He spent his youth and received his elementary education in Pennsylvania. He was graduated from the Dixon Normal School in Dixon, Ill., and did post graduate work at Drake University in Des Moines.

He was united in marriage at Lawville, Pa., in 1868 with Ellen E. West. Three children were born to this union, Mrs. Josie L. Emerson of Des Moines; Mrs. L. H. Snyder of Kansas City, Mo., and Dr. B. E. Washburn of Seattle, Wash.

Mr. Washburn began his life work at teaching in Pennsylvania about the time of his marriage and carried on this work for fifty years. He taught in rural and city schools of Pennsylvania and Iowa and was granted a first grade state certificate for life to teach in both states. In January, 1884, he moved his family to Beloit, Iowa. He taught there several years after which he was elected superintendent of the schools at Rock Valley. He came to the Hawarden schools as superintendent in the fall of 1888. Mrs. Washburn passed away in February, 1890, in Hawarden. He returned to Rock Valley as superintendent of schools in the fall of the same year and remained there several years.

On June 27, 1893, he was united in marriage with Emma L. Kluckhohn of Garner, Iowa, at that place, and she survives him. They had met in Hawarden where she was principal of the high school for three years while he was superintendent. Here they became members of the Congregational church and always maintained membership in this church denomination. Their first home together was in Rock Valley and later they lived in Paullina, Garner, Klemme and other Iowa schools where he taught. He served as instructor in many of the institutes which Iowa teachers were required to attend for summer sessions. He went into business in Algona and later in Ventura, where his health began to fail. One daughter, Miss Georgia, was born to this union. She resides at Ventura.

Mr. Washburn maintained a kindly interest in all of his students. He believed in them and his philosophy of life was based on his desire to help them in every way he could. He was extremely interested in all scholastic pursuits.

Mrs. Washburn and daughter, Miss Georgia, accompanied the body here from Ventura Monday and Mr. Kluckhohn, a nephew of Mrs. Washburn from LeMars, came with them. J. A. Emerson also came from Des Moines Sunday to make arrangements for the burial but Mrs. Emerson was unable to accompany him.

Besides the four children, he also leaves three grandchildren, Miss Hope Emerson of New York and Des Moines; Mrs. Una Witt and Benson J. Snyder of Kansas City, Mo., and one great grandchild, Maxine Witt of Kansas City.

source: Hawarden Independent, 29 Mar 1934

 

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