The Lowell Star, Aug. 17, 1872, page 5, column 3, had a list of soldiers who were supporters of Grant in that election. Among them was George W. Waters of the 19th Mich.
On the same page of the paper, in column 2, are other bits of information about Mr. Waters and his business:
Ague medicine at George Waters, in quantities sufficient to spoil the shakes.
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George Waters is still handling his drugs over the counter to hosts of customers.
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A good smooth shave can be had at Gragg's Tonsorial rooms under Waters' drug store.
The following information was found in the Sept. 14, 1872, issue of The Lowell Star (page 5, column 3):
George Waters sells ague medicine that will knock the chills "higher than a kite."
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George W. Waters is receiving almost constantly invoices of pure fresh drugs. He charges nothing for the winning smile he gives a customer when he pays cash for the goods he purchases.
A newspaper article lists the damage to George W. Water's drug store from the 1898 Lowell business district fire at $4,000.
A copy of this article from the Lowell Souvenir (Mar. 29, 1902) can be found in the Local History Files at the Lowell Public Library (LH--Vital Statistics, vol. 2, page 81 or in the "Old Newspapers" drawer):
INJURIES PROVE FATAL.
George W. Waters, Who Was Seriously Hurt, Died Last Sunday
HIS DEATH A SEVERE SHOCK
Lowell Loses an Honored Citizen and Business Man -- Funeral Attended With Civil and Miltary Honors Worthy of the Man -- His Life.
GEO. W. WATERS' DEATH
In the unnatural and tragic death of our honored and esteemed citizen and veteran business man, George W. Waters, the people of Lowell and vicinity received a severe shock, the more so because of the manner in which he was taken away, and a deep gloom was cast over the city, which practically suspended business for the time being. In his departure from the stage of human action the citizens feel that they have sustained a serious loss, as the many tributes of respect fully attest. His was said to have been the largest funeral ever known in Lowell, people from all over the country and from abroad being present, and a more solemn, dignified and impressive funeral march to the city of the dead, participated in by the various orders of which he was a member, is rarely witnessed, and was a grand sight even in its solemnity.
The Souvenir of last week recorded the facts of the sad accident which befell Mr. Waters while attempting to get on to a street car in Chicago after he and Mr. L.P. Lavendar had left the Coleseum, where the Knights of Pythias were helping high carnival. The hope was expressed that the injured man would recover, but on Friday evening a telegram was received by Mr. Lavendar that his condition was serious, and for the family to come to his bedside at St. Luke's hospital, Chicago, and Mr. Lavendar and wife and Miss Flonnie Waters were with him when the end came at 8:15 a.m. Sunday, he being conscious up until a few minutes before death. The final cause of death was due to a blood clot that worked its way up through the veins and into the left lung. An inquest was held over the body, the verdict being death by an accident due to the carelessness of employees of the Chicago Street Railway Co.
Funeral Director Weaver and Attorney S.C. Dwyer were telegraphed for and they drove to Cedar Lake and there took the fast train for Chicago, the former to take charge of the body and the latter to attend the inquest and to look after Mr. Water's estate matters.
The body arrived in Lowell on the 10 o'clock trainTuesday night, and on Wednesday forenoon from 10:30 until 12 o'clock the remains laid in state at the residence and a large number of people gazed upon the natural, peaceful and almost smiling countenance reposing in a handsome, black casket. The pupils of the public schools, with the teachers at the head of their respective division, and Supt. Sheets leading the way, marched in double file from the school building to the residence and viewed the remains of him who had been a member of the board when the new school building was erected. On his breast rested a little silk flag, fastened with a Masonic and a Pythian pin. At the head of the casket was a large and handsome pillow of flowers, on which were the words "Business Men's Tribute." By the side of the casket rested a handsome floral crescent by the Rathbone Sisters and a floral Pythian emblem. On top of the casket were two pretty floral tributes from Dr. and Mrs. John Buckley, Chicago, and Mr. and Mrs. H.S. Miles, Logansport. A gorgeous maltese cross was tge tribute of the Knight Templars. These beautiful floral tributes mutely spoke volumes of the high esteem in which the deceased was held by the community.
FUNERAL EXERCISES WEDNESDAY
The funeral exercises took place at the residence at 2 o'clock, being opened by the Methodist church choir with the hymn "Sweet Hour of Prayer," at the conclusion of which Elder John Bruce read the Scriptures. Prayer was offered by Rev. E.D. Smith, at the conclusion of which an anthem was rendered by the choir. Some very appropriate remarks were made by Rev. Smith, and an obituary was read by him. His remarks were based on the text "All things work together for good for those who love God." He was followed by Elder Bruce in a few well-chosen words of tribute to the deceased. The services were closed by the rendition of another hymn.
Funeral director Weaver then took charge of arrangements, and the pallbearers, consisting of H.C. Taylor, H. Gershman, Emil Sirois, Masons; C.H. Taylor, Milo Brannon, Chas. Belshaw, Knights of Pythias, bore the casket to the hearse. The honorary pallbearers, chosen from the Grand Army of the Republic, were: Amos Thompson, H.B. Bundy, Oliver Surprise, O.V. Service, J.P. Spalding, and Samuel Nichols.
The march to the Lowell cemetery was a grand pageant of lodge and military honors. The Knights of Pythias led the column, followed by the Grand Army of the Republic, followed by the Masonic Blue Lodge of Lowell, while the Hammond Uniformed Commandery Knights Templar occupied the post of honor immediately in front of the hearse drawn by two handsome black horses. The sorrowful members of the family occupied positions directly behind the hearse in closed carriages, while many friends brought up the rear in vehicles. A vast throng of people walked to the cemetery.
At the grave each order respectively performed its ceremony briefly and casting little branches of evergreen into the open grave. At the conclusion of the G.A.R. ceremony a salute of three volleys of musketry was fired. A hymn was rendered by the choir. The remains were finally slowly lowered to the grave by means of a new device manipulated by Director Weaver, which was for the first time employed. After a few brief remarks by Rev. Smith he pronounced the benediction.
Special praise is due Mr. Weaver for the perfect manner in which he managed the funeral arrangements throughout, and which speaks exceedingly well for his ability.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE
George W. Waters was born in Orleans County, N.Y., June 21, 1842, and was the youngest of two children of Ira and Francelia S. (Wilson) Waters, the former a native of Whitehall, N.Y., and the latter of Rochester, N.Y. Ira Waters was a life-long farmer and in 1855 located in St. Joseph, Mich. He was killed by a falling tree in December, 1881.
Geo. W. Waters, the object of this sketch, remained with his parents until manhood, receiving a fair school education. When the civil war broke out he enlisted in Company D., Nineteenth Michigan Volunteers, August 7, 1862, and was assigned to the Twentieth Corps, Western Division, under Gen. Hooker. He was in active duty at Fort Donelson and Franklin, where he was made a prisoner, and in March, 1863, was placed in Libby prison, where the hardships and sufferings endured by him for three months were indescribablu. When captured he weighed 190 pounds, and when he was released he had been reduced to 125. In June, 1863, he was paroled, and, on account of wounds received in the service, was discharged. On returning to Michigan he engaged in farming for one year, resolving to make that state his future home, but in October, 1866, he, with three other men, arrived in Lowell with a drove of sheep, en route for Kansas. The sheep sickened and died and Mr. Waters remained in this section. He taught school in West creek township that winter, and later worked for Henry Sanger. He soon came to Lowell and took a position in Dr. Bacon's drug store, and a year later he engaged in the business himself, continuing in the same place for over thirty years, excepting the short time that elapsed between the burning of his place of business and the erection of his new building in Octber, 1898, he being the first to start up of those who were burned out.
On January 6, 1869, Mr. Waters united in marriage to Miss Mary Sautter, an adopted daughter of Hiram and Louisa Robbins, of Lowell. To this union were born two daughters--Eva, now the wife of L.P. Laverdar, and Flonnie. Mrs. Waters was born in Germany, June 5, 1843, and was brought to this country by her parents when a child. She died December 20, 1901, just three months to a day that her husband received his fatal injury. The two daughters survive their parents, and have the profoundest sympathy of the entire community in the tragic ending of their beloved and indulgent father.
Mr. Waters was a successful business man, and a most highly respected and honored citizen and had no real enemies that he ever knew of, being at all times courteous and kind to all, and was very sympathetic and kind-hearted. He was a puclic-spirited man and always welcomed improvements that were calculated to build up the town. He served as clerk and treasurer of the town board for seven years when the town was first incorporated. He also served on the school board for six years, and was a member of that board when the new school house was built, an achievement he was very proud of. He took a keen interest in the lodge work, and was a Knight of Pythian, Odd Fellow, Knight Templar, Mason, and a member of the G.A.R., which organization he assisted in organizing. He was a charter member of the Commercial Club. At the time of his death he was master of finance of the Knights of Pythias. He was a memeber of the Methodist church. He had been overtaken by death in his family during the past few years and had been swept out by the fire, but being a person of great fortitude and courage, he met them bravely and uncomplainingly. In Mr. Waters' death Lowell had met with an irreparable loss, and the people mourn with the bereaved.
RESOLUTIONS OF CONDOLENCE
Whereas, In the tragic and untimely death of George W. Waters, one of Lowell's oldest business men, and most highly respeted citizens; the business men of Lowell, in session assembled do hereby
RESOLVE, That in the death of Geo. W. Waters Lowell and vicinity have met with an imparable loss in one who stood in the highest esteem as a business man, whose honesty and integrity were above reproach, whose social life was pure and clean, whose home life was simplicity and perfect harmony, to a degree of indulgence, and whose worth as a lodge man was at all times readily recognized and in whose demise the fraternal orders of Lowell have sustained a great loss. Be it further
RESOLVED, That it was with the keenest sense of sorrow that the business men were called together to take action on such a sad matter, one which has cast a deep gloom over the entire community and practically suspended business for a time. Be it further
RESOLVED, That the profoundest expressions of sympathy and condolence is extended to the bereaved and sorely afflicted children and other relatives of the deceased. Be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of these resolutions be presented to each of the daughters of the deceased, and also a copy to each of the city papers and the Commercial Club.
The following Lowell Tribune article was found in the August 26, 1948 issue, page 1, column 1:
Find 1896 Relic While Remodeling Store
Alvah Pletcher and Henry Spindler, owners of the Pletcher and Spindler Co., found out exactly when the old brick store front they are now having torn out, was built. While workmen were tearing out the brick column at the west corner Alvah found an old glass drug container with a letterhead of the George W. Waters drug store stuffed inside. On the letterhead, in the handwriting of Mr. Waters, was written: "George W. Waters, Notary Public". The date was May 6, 1896.
Mr. Waters, who operared a drug store in the building across the street now owned by the Masonic lodge, evidently put the bottle in the brick wall as it was being built and probably wondered at that time who would find it.
Now Mr. Pletcher is going to do the same thing when the bricklayers get started on that same column, and he is also wondering who will find it the next time the front is torn out.
Last updated on April 25, 2008.
Go to George W. Waters, "Pioneer History Index," for further information.