Peabody, George Frederick

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 269
• 1850 Census: 1850, Sheboygan, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA
• 1860 Census: 1860, Portage, Columbia, Wisconsin, USA
• 1880 Census: 1880, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• 1880 Census: 1880, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• 1900 Census: 1900, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• 1905 State Census: 1905, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• Biography: 1911; History of Outagamie County, Wisconsin Page 1018
• News Mention: 23 Dec 1958; Appleton Post Crescent

Notes:

1850 Census:
H G Peabody34
L L Peabody35
George F Peabody5

1860 Census:
J M Loup36
Lydin Loup36
George Peabody14

1880 Census:
Geo. F. Peabody35
Emma C. Peabody3

1880 Census:
Listed twice in the census. Once listed as George F on Lawe st with daughter Emma
Then also listed at store as Gerge A.
Name:Geo A. Peabody
Age:35
Birth Year:abt 1845
Birthplace:Connecticut
Home in 1880:Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin
Race:White
Gender:Male
Marital Status:Widower
Father's Birthplace:Connecticut
Mother's Birthplace:Connecticut
Neighbors:View others on page
Occupation:Dry Goods Merchant

1900 Census:
George F Pestody54
Emma C Pestody23
Lena Griswold27
Lizzie Metz20

1905 State Census:
Geo F Peabody59
Emma C Peabody28
Pauline Busch28
Mary Otte23

Biography:
GEORGE FREDERICK PEABODY, deceased. In almost every community one name stands out with greater prominence than any other; one man has achieved notable success which ranks him foremost among his fellowmen; an individuality has left an indelible impress upon the history of a community. The life, character and achievements of George Frederick Peabody, who died Sunday morning, September 12, 1909, were even greater than this. His invigorating mentality, keen business foresight, his upright conduct and blameless life, his many acts of unostentatious charity, his public benefactions and his prominence as a citizen, ranked him among the foremost men of Wisconsin. Mr. Peabody was of New England nativity, his birth taking place in September, 1845, at New Milford, Connecticut. When a small lad his parents removed to Wisconsin and located at Portage, and he there grew to manhood and received his early scholastic training. At twenty years of age he began clerking in the store of C. J. Pettibone, at Fond du Lac, and there developed the mercantile instinct for which he afterwards became famous. In the year 1872 he was sent to Appleton by his employer to assist in the work of the branch store at this place, which had been established during the Civil War, and of which, after a brief period, Mr. Peabody was made manager. It is likely that he would have succeeded equally as well in almost any other career, for he was born to succeed; his mental and physical makeup, his indomitable energy, dauntless spirit and business acumen were the inevitable precursors of success.
In the early '60s the general store founded in Appleton by C. J. Pettibone occupied the ground floor of a two-story brick building.The rear of the second floor was used as a carpet room, the front room being the home of the First National Bank, then the office of the Appleton Crescent, and later being utilized as the office of the Western Union Telegraph Company. When Mr. Peabody became manager of the store the business was confined to the retailing of dry goods, boots and shoes in a small building where now stands the present beautiful and commodious structure of the Pettibone-Peabody Company.
In 1903 the present magnificent four-story and basement building was erected on the old site. It was under the watchful care and directing mind of Mr. Peabody that the business so prospered that it became the largest retail mercantile establishment in Wisconsin outside the city of Milwaukee, and it remains an object of pride to the people of Appleton and surrounding country. When Mr. Peabody passed off the stage of life he was succeeded by J. D. Steele as president and manager.
Mr. Peabody did not center all his energies, however, on business. He was an enthusiastic believer in the coming greatness of Appleton as a business center, of the Fox River valley for manufacturing purposes and of Outagamie county as an agricultural community, and to all public enterprises tending toward the general good he was a liberal contributor. To enumerate his many public benefactions would of necessity involve the writing separately the history of Appleton, which is given elsewhere in this work. For a number of years his invaluable assistance as a member of the board of trustees of Lawrence University was of great aid to that institution. On October 3, 1875, Mr. Peabody united with the First Congregational Church upon confession of faith and of which for more than twenty-five years he was one of the trustees. Dr. Faville, the pastor of the church, in regard to Mr. Peabody, said:
"While he was a man absorbed in many business cares he was faithful to his religious duties as a church attendant, and was always greatly interested in the First Congregational Church of Appleton. He believed in it, he believed in its government, its democracy, and he was always a loyal member."
In politics Mr. Peabody was democratic as well as a Democrat, but his activities in this direction extended only so far as to actively espouse measures tending toward the general welfare. In 1893 he was appointed by Governor George W. Peck state commissioner of fisheries for a term of six years. He served as president of the American Fisheries Society in 1898-99, and as secretary from 1901 until his death. Coming from a family of noted worth and achievement he fully sustained the honorable traditions of his people. He held active membership in the Reform Club of New York, the New York Yacht Club, the Oshkosh Yacht Club, the Diana Shooting Club and the Riverview Country Club. He acquired wealth by clean business methods and converted his means to the enjoyment of life as a rational human being and for the good of his fellowmen. He was widely read as to the best literature, and was equally well informed upon the current topics of the day, and had traveled extensively both at home and abroad. His domestic life was one of happiness, even though brief. In May, 1874, he married Miss Emma K. Pettibone, daughter of C. J. Pettibone. She died three years later, leaving one daughter, Mrs. Emma Peabody Harper, now residing in Appleton.
Mr. Peabody's death was not altogether unexpected, but was nevertheless a shock when it became known. His loss was especially felt by his employes, to whom he extended fatherly kindness and substantial material aid. In a general letter to the public, dated September 16, 1909, the following tribute was paid Mr. Peabody by the corporation of the Pettibone-Peabody Company:
"Our beloved president, Mr. George F. Peabody, quietly passed away at his home at Appleton, Sunday morning, September 12, a few hours following the sixty-fourth anniversary of his birth. His death, though expected, came sooner than was anticipated, and the sudden realization that he would no longer be among us has deeply touched the hearts of those whose pleasure it has been to be associated with him. His genial manner, his gentlemanly bearing, his ability as a leader and manager, his greatness of heart, his thoughtful consideration of the welfare of his employes, and many other splendid attributes of mind and heart have led all who labored for and with him, not merely to respect him--but to love him. His death terminates forty years of active work in the upbuilding of a business which has developed with giant strides until today it stands as a mighty monument to his name. To maintain the present high standard of this business, established by Mr. Peabody through years of patient toil and thought, and to carry out the plans he outlined for the future, is the work that must now fall on other shoulders. For even such a time as this his foresight made provision, so that there are ready to step into the places of trust and responsibility, men who have been thoroughly trained to the work that is theirs to perform. To their assistance comes a host of employes embued through Mr. Peabody with a spirit of sincere loyalty and a sense of added duty that will be of inestimable value in further developing this institution and carrying its high standard through whatever fortunes the future may have in store.
"This brief, inadequate tribute we pay to the memory of Mr. Peabody because of our deep appreciation of the many admirable qualities of the man. Perchance the knowledge of our respect and love will not come amiss to others who likewise knew him."

George married Pettibone, Emma Abt May 1874. Emma (daughter of Pettibone, Chauncey "C. J. " and Unknown, Unknownf) was born Abt 1852; died 2 Jan 1877, , Cook County, Illinois, USA; was buried , Riverside Cemetery, Appleton, Wisconsin, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 269

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 269
• 1905 State Census: 1905, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• 1910 Census: 1910, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• 1920 Census: 1920, Redlands, San Bernardino, California, USA
• Death Record - Civil: 15 Sep 1954
• Obituary: 16 Sep 1954; Appleton Post Crescent

Notes:

1905 State Census:
Geo F Peabody59
Emma C Peabody28
Pauline Busch28
Mary Otte23

1910 Census:
William E Harper42
Emma P Harper33
Pauline A Bush33

1920 Census:
William E Harper52
Emma C Harper43

Death Record - Civil:
Name:Emma Caroline Harper
[Emma Caroline Peabody]
Gender:Female
Birth Date:3 Dec 1876
Birth Place:Wisconsin
Death Date:15 Sep 1954
Death Place:San Diego
Father's Surname:Peabody

Obituary:
Emma Harper
Maiden Name: Peabody
Spouse: William E. Harper
Birth date not known.
Died: September 15, 1954
Obituary
Newspaper: Post-Crescent
Notice Date: September 16, 1954
Section:
Page: 1
Type:
Notes news article, Peabody Heir dies. Daughter of George Peabody, age 77

Emma Harper
Spouse: William E. Harper
Birth date not known.
Died: September 15, 1954
Obituary
Newspaper: Post-Crescent
Notice Date: September 28, 1954
Section:
Page: 26
Type: OB
Cemetery
Name: Riverside
Location: Appleton, WI
Notes age 77 (Daughter of George F. Peabody)

Emma married Harper, William Edwin Bef 1910. William was born 31 Jan 1868, Redhill, England; died 10 Jun 1947, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA; was buried , Riverside Cemetery, Appleton, Wisconsin, USA. [Group Sheet]