George M. Case

Hon. George M. CASE is the sixth child and third son of Jonathan and Betsey Ann (FERGUSON) CASE, natives of Oneida county, and was born in Fulton, where he has always resided, on the 29th of August, 1827. The parents were married in Oneida county and came thence to Fulton at an early day. Jonathan CASE was a merchant, sheriff of Oswego county, a canal contractor, and later a contractor on railroads, and died here in 1850. His widow survived until about 1885, at the age of eighty-six.

George M. Case was educated in the public schools of his native village and in the old Fulton Academy, the predecessor of Falley Seminary. He taught a district school one winter and then entered the dry goods store of J. & S. F. CASE as a clerk, in which capacity he remained for three years, when he was admitted to a partnership under the firm name of J. & S. F. Case & Co. Soon afterward his father died and the firm became S. F. & G. M. CASE. He subsequently engaged in business as a canal contractor in company with Thomas GALE, and performed the work of enlarging the Liverpool level. In 1860 he retired from mercantile trade and until 1870 devoted his entire attention to contracting. He undertook many important contacts involving hundreds of thousands of dollars, and executed each one satisfactorily. These covered numerous State and government works, and among them, as a member of the firm of Case, Van Wagenen & Co., was the blasting of rock out of the Mississippi River at Rock Island and the extensive dredgings in Maumee Bay at Toledo, Ohio. For eight years, with Thomas KEELER, he had charge of the Cayuga and Seneca canal.

In 1870 Mr. Case retired from business as a contractor and became cashier of the Citizens' National Bank of Fulton, of which he was subsequently elected president, a position he still holds. This bank was founded and has generally been conducted by members of the Case family, and no similar institution in Western or Northern New York ranks higher in financial affairs. It has always enjoyed the confidence of business men everywhere.

In politics Mr. Case has ever exerted a commanding and wholesome influence, and as a staunch Republican he has materially contributed to his party's welfare. In 1886 and again in 1887 he represented the second district of Oswego county in the State Legislature, where he served with distinction as chairman of the Banking Committee and member of the committee on canals. His legislative career was marked with unswerving fidelity to his constituents and an open-handed, liberal support of every worthy measure. He has served as member of the Republican State Committee for three years, and has frequently represented his constituency as delegate to local, county, district, and state conventions. He went as a delegate to the Chicago National Convention in 1880, and was one of the 306 who voted for the renomination of Grant; after Garfield was brought forward as a candidate Mr. Case with the others transferred his support to that subsequently lamented president, and was prominent among the number who proudly placed his name in nomination. Mr. Case has also been for many years one of the railroad commissioners for the town of Volney, a position he still holds. With Willard JOHNSON he was instrumental in refunding the town's indebtedness, which proved exceedingly beneficial to the taxpayers.

In private life and as a citizen Mr. Case is universally esteemed and respected. His influence is ever directed towards the betterment of his town and county. In business he is shrewd, liberal, and honest. He is a generous benefactor, public spirited, kind hearted, and consistent. He belongs to the Masonic lodge in Fulton and is a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he has served as president of the board of trustees for many years. To this organization Mr. Case has long been a liberal contributor and an earnest, active supporter.

September 11, 1850, Mr. Case married Miss Vandalia M., daughter of Henry FRENCH, an early and prominent resident of Fulton. They have had two children, both living, viz., Eva D., wife of Dr. Charles R. LEE, of Fulton, and Solon F., cashier of the Citizens' National Bank. Mrs. Case died August 14, 1890, and on October 20, 1894, Mr. Case married for his second and present wife Mrs. B.J. KIMBALL, of Fulton.

*1895 Landmarks of Oswego County*