BIOGRAPHY: George Wilson ELDER, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 488-489.

  GEORGE WILSON ELDER, son of Robert and Esther Elder, was born in Half Moon 
valley, Centre county, Pa., July 28, 1821.  His grandfather came from Franklin 
county, Pa., to this valley in 1787, when it was an unbroken wilderness.  He was 
of a family who emigrated from Scotland about 1730, settled in Paxtang, Dauphin 
county, and took an active part in the Revolutionary struggle.  The mother of 
George W. Elder was of Quaker descent;  her ancestors came over with Penn when 
he made his first visit to America;  they settled in Chester county, Pa., whence 
her father removed to Half Moon valley soon after Abraham Elder, the paternal 
grandfather already mentioned, took up his residence there.  The old homestead 
is still occupied by members of the family.
  In this home George W. Elder spent his early years, engaged in the occupations 
of the farm in the summer, and attending the schools of the neighborhood in the 
winter.  About two years of this early period were spent in the store of his 
brother-in-law in Warriors Mark, Huntingdon county;  after which Mr. Elder 
entered the preparatory department of Allegheny College at Meadville, Pa.  In 
1843 he became a student at Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Pa., entering the 
sophomore class, and graduated in 1846.  Returning home, he immediately 
registered as a student-at-law with Hon. H. N. McAlister, of Bellefonte, Pa., 
and after due preparation entered the law department of Harvard University, 
graduating with the class of 1849.  In the same year he took up his residence in 
Lewistown, where he has since been in continuous practise.  Although deeply 
interested in the political welfare of his country, he has never sought or 
desired to hold any official position.  The educational institutions of the town 
have ever received Mr. Elder's cordial support.  He served several terms on the 
borough school board, and as president of the board of trustees of the academy.  
He was influential in the organization of the Library Association, and was for 
many years its president.  He has been about thirty years a director in the 
Mifflin county National Bank.  The year in which he became a resident of 
Lewistown saw the opening of the Pennsylvania Railroad to that place;  he was 
present, and took part in the opening ceremonies.  Soon after he was appointed 
attorney of the railroad company at Lewistown, and has been in their employ to 
the present time.
  George Wilson Elder was married in 1853, to Margaretta Scott Shaw.  Their 
family consists of three sons and two daughters:  Rufus C., a graduate of 
Princeton College, pursued the study of law with his father, and is associated 
with him in the practise of his profession, married Leah B. McFarland;  George 
Robert, also a graduate of Princeton and prepared for legal practise in his 
father's office, removed on his admission to the bar to Leadville, Col., where 
he still resides, and is married to Ida Dull;  Herman Scott, engaged in the 
milling business, is senior member of the firm of Elder & Egbert;  Esther, the 
elder daughter, married Frank E. Mann, resides near Lewistown;  and Mary T. 
(Mrs. William G. Brinton), resides in Oxford, Pa.