Oswego County's: Guide To Government

George B. Sloan

The name of Senator Sloan has long been identified with Oswego's interests and developments. He is a citizen and statesman, well and favorably known, not only in Oswego, but throughout the Empire State. All who have the pleasure of his acquaintance admire him greatly. No one is more popular or more highly regarded in the community in which he lives. He is a progressive citizen in every sense of the word. Through his untiring efforts much has been accomplished in the line of improvement and development that has made Oswego the prosperous City that it is today. No one ever went to him asking for support for a worthy object but that he was received in the most cordial manner, and the necessary assistance given.

It has always been Senator Sloan's aim to do what he could to help the progress of the City, and those interested in its' welfare. He does his full share when opportunity offers, and has never been known to shirk from duty when called upon. He is a public benefactor. Senator Sloan was born in Oswego. He was educated in the common schools, and began as a clerk in a dry goods store. At the age of 21, milling and lake transportation engaged his attention. He later entered partnership in the grain and commission business with Theodore Irwin under the firm name of Irwin and Sloan. The firm did an extensive business throughout Canada and the West for many years, and then they disposed of a large share of it to several young men, Messrs . Irwin & Sloan not severing their interest entirely.

Through all these years Mr. Sloan has been a businessman of much prominence and ability, and today is still jointly interested with Mr. Irwin in many of Oswego's large flourishing enterprises. Mr. Sloan is President of the Second National Bank, a position that he has held since 1884, and is interested financially in the Oswego Shade Cloth factory, which was established in 1872. He is one of the directors of the National Railway Company, a director of the Fitzgibbons Boiler works, besides being interested in several other prominent enterprises. Mr. Sloan has served as President of the Oswego Board of Trade and is now member of the Board of Directors of the Oswego Water Works Company, member of the local board of the State Normal School in Oswego, trustee of the Oswego orphan Asylum, and one of several citizens who incorporated on February 10, 1872, the Home for the Homeless, an institution that is worthy of all that can be done for its maintenance. Mr. Sloan is vestryman and trustee of Christ Episcopal Church. He is interested in everything that tends to do good.

Senator Sloan is a strong Republican. He has always been loyal to the principles of his party. His political career dates back to 1860 and 61 when he became alderman in the Third ward in his own City. From that time on he has been prominent in politics and one of the enthusiastic leaders of his party. He is known as being modest and retiring, and, in truth, he has never asked for office nor sought to become unduly prominent.

In 1874 he was elected as member of Assembly and that year served on the Ways and Means Committee. In 1876 he again was returned to the Assembly and was made Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, a place that he filled with ability and success. In 1877, he was elected Speaker of the Assembly, and it is said that no speaker has ever surpassed him in ability and fairness in his decisions. He was highly complimented by members of both sides of the house. In 1879 Mr. Sloan was elected to the Assembly for the fourth time, and again was made Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. In 1886, he was elected to the Senate from the 21st District comprising the Counties of Oswego and Jefferson and served with efficiency for 3 terms. He was Chairman of the Committee on Finance and also on the Committees on Rules and Canals and in each capacity he proved himself capable and a financier of the highest order. For many years Mr. Sloan has been prominent in the history of politics. In each official capacity he has worked for the best interest of the people and the party, which he so faithfully and ably represented, and his friends and constituents have appreciated the conscientious manner in which he always discharged his legislative duties.

Mr. Sloan is a fluent speaker; his speeches have always been interesting and have been listened to with a great deal of interest and profit. Mr. Sloan as a citizen is highly esteemed, as a politician he is among the leaders, and as a businessman he is enterprising and progressive.

THE POST EXPRESS Nov. 27