Hon. George Paul 1824-1902

PAUL, EDWARDS, CAMPBELL

Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall
Date: 5/31/2006 at 03:57:27

Death of an Early Iowa Pioneer
Hon. George Paul, who died at his home in Iowa City last Saturday, was one of Iowa's most distinguished early pioneers. He was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Dec. 25, 1824, and came to Iowa in 1836, when the state was called the Black Hawk purchase. He learned the printer's trade at Fort Madison under Mr. J.G. Edwards, the founder of the Burlington Hawkeye. Mr. Paul removed to Iowa City in 1841 to accept the foremanship of the Iowa Capital Reporter, and was one of the proprietors of that paper from 1847 to 1852. He was elected sheriff of Johnson county in 1846, state printer in 1850, served as a member of the board of supervisors from 1863 to 1867, was a member of the legislature for the years 1871, 1873,1874,1878 and 1879. He was postmaster at Iowa City during the administration of President Cleveland. Faithful, efficient and popular in official positions and private life he made an honorable record that will be the most valuable heritage of the surviving members of his family.

Mr. Paul was an old school Democrat, but while always loyal to his convictions he was not offensive in his partisanship. He was popular with men of all parties and always respected the opinions of those who differed with him on principles of government. He was a Democrat without demagogism, something after the manner of Hon. Edward Campbell, of Fairfield, who has made nearly equally as honorable a political record in Iowa. Mr. Paul had an extensive state acquaintance, and his death brought real sorrow to all the people of the state with whom he had become acquainted during his long and useful life in Iowa, a life that aided in forming the broad and substantial foundations on which the noble state has gained such unequalled honors. The REGISTER renders this tribute of respect to the good friend of nearly 40 years acquaintance, who served his county and state so faithfully, in accordance with convictions which were not always right, but were uniformly honest as the light was given him to see the right.

-source: State Register, Des Moines, Iowa, June 22, 1902