George
S.
West

GEORGE S. WEST was born in Boston MA on September 12, 1851. His parents moved to Camden the following year. His father, who had been a soldier in the regular Army in the Mexican War, raised a company of volunteers in Ohio, but died of natural causes in 1861. 

George S. West received his education in Camden's public schools. He trained as a machinist, but did not follow that trade, instead engaging a salesman of wholesale clothing and notions. He eventually opened up his own business, an auction house, which prospered. He married Miss Mary Charles in 1876. 

George S. West involved himself in military affairs and politics, as a Republican. He served three one year terms on Camden City Council from the Fourth Ward in the 1880s, and was elected for a five year term as the Camden County Surrogate in 1887, at which time he closed his auction business to devote himself to his new position. George S. West was re-elected in 1892 for another five years.  As a military man, he had by 1897 risen to the command of Company D, Sixth Regiment of the New Jersey National Guard, and was instrumental in the construction of the 6th Regiment Armory.

George S. West was also involved in fraternal activities. he was a 32nd degree mason, a member of the Lulu Temple of the Mystic Shrine in Philadelphia, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Improved order of Red Men, the Brotherhood of United American Mechanics, the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. 

George S. and Mary West lived in the late 1880s at 21 South 5th Street in Camden. They moved around 1890 to 101 South 5th Street.

Philadelphia Inquirer - October 11, 1887

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Jacob C. Daubman - Charles Fackler - Dr. Willis Hunt - Charles Pedigree - David Baird - George S. West
Dr. James G. Stanton - William O. Sloan - Thomas Harned - George Barrett - John Campbell
William H. Chandler - William F. Reed - Dr. John D. Leckner - John Corbitt - John Blowe - Harry B. Paul  
George Pfeiffer - David M. Chambers - George A. Tenner - Benjamin M. Braker - John H. Doerr
David Jones - L.D. Sheppard - H.C. Hopper - A.J. Hoey - Frank Warren
Edward Dudley - B.L. Bonsall - John D. Glover - Peter Arrison - Dr. Onan Gross

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 Joseph Logue
Sarah Louwin
Henry S. Scovel
Birch Street
Fannie Ellingsworth
John Lee
James Baird - David Baird Sr.
Joseph Robinson - Mary Simpson
John Edgert - James Lennox
George S. West
Alfred Hugg
 Richard Ridgway

Biographical Review - 1897

GEORGE S. WEST

George S. West, Surrogate of Camden County and a resident of the city of Camden, was born September 12, 1851, in Boston, Mass., son of Samuel and Mary (Weldon) West. Samuel West, who also was a native of Boston, settled in Camden in 1852. A soldier in the regular army, he served in the Mexican War, fighting on the Rio Grande, under General Zachary Taylor, and distinguishing himself for bravery. Though troubled by a wound received in Mexico, he was eager to participate in the wear of the Rebellion, and raised a company of volunteers in Ohio. After receiving the command of the company, he never reached the battlefield, as his old wound; caused his death in 1861, when he was forty-four years old.

George S. West was educated in the public schools of Camden. He subsequently learned the machinist's trade; but, having no taste for labor of that kind, he sought and obtained the position of salesman in a wholesale clothing and notion house of Philadelphia. Afterward he opened a large auction house in Camden, which he successfully conducted until 1887. In the mean time he had taken an active part in politics as a Republican, and his character and energy had made him popular with both parties. Beginning in 1885, he was elected a member of the City Council for three successive years, representing Ward Four. In 1887 he was elected County Surrogate on the Republican ticket, receiving, it is stated, the largest majority ever given a candidate for that office in this section. On that occasion he gave up his auction business, and thereafter devoted his whole attention to the duties of his office. Having completed his term of five years with credit, he was re-elected for another term in 1892.

In 1876 Mr. West was married to Miss Mary J. Charles, of Camden, and now has one son, Hayden A., who is studying medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Camden Republican Club. Taking much interest in military affairs, he is Commander of Company D, Sixth Regiment of the National Guards, and chairman of the committee on the new armory. It was largely through his instrumentality that the State was induced to appropriate one hundred and forty-eight thousand dollars for the erection of that handsome structure. He is a Knight Templar Mason, has taken the thirty-second degree, and is a member of the Lulu Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Philadelphia. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Brotherhood of United American Mechanics, the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is popular with all classes of men, and is a leading spirit in social events. Mrs. West is a Deaconess of the Baptist church. Mr. West is not a church member.

Philadelphia Inquirer * January 11, 1898

Philadelphia Inquirer
August 23, 1898

Ferry Avenue
Byron Street
North 3rd Street
Camden Elks Lodge
Samuel Suders
Joseph Nowrey
John H. Jordan
Farr & Bailey
George S. West