Sampson, George 1849-1941

SAMPSON, STOWE, PEGRAM, PEAK

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 8/1/2012 at 15:41:42

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Jan. 2, 1941

GEORGE SAMPSON DIED ON TUESDAY AT THE AGE OF 92
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CAME TO U.S.A. FROM NORWAY AT AGE OF 12
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Served Grinnell as Contractor for More Than 60 Years.

George Sampson, one of this community's most highly respected citizens for more than three score years, passed away at the Community hospital Tuesday morning at the age of 92 years, one month and 27 days.

For over 60 years he served Grinnell as a contractor and dozens upon dozens of homes and other structures stand today as monuments to his business integrity and acumen.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Methodist church, with Rev. C.E. Loose, the minister, in charge. Members of the Masonic lodge, of which he was a member for 58 years, will conduct the Masonic funeral ceremony at the church. Burial will be at Hazelwood cemetery.

TRIBUTE PAID

Prof. L.F. Parker, in his "History of Poweshiek County" published in 1911, paid high tribute to Mr. Sampson with the following summary of his career up to that date:

"The possibilities under the favoring influences of the republic for ambitious and deserving young men from foreign lands are clearly illustrated in the career of George Sampson, now a leading contractor of Grinnell.

"Coming to this country as a young man, he started at the very foundation by learning the language and gradually forged his way through obstacles until he became established in a permanent and lucrative business. It required pluck, zeal and unswerving perserverance, but he was liberally endowed with all of these necessary qualities.

HIGHLY RESPECTED

"He is today one of the substantial and successful citizens of Poweshiek county. His life may be truly designated as active and useful and in all his business transactions he has been entirely honorable and trustworthy. He possesses the esteem and confidence of all with whom his relations, socially or in business, have brought him in contact."

Born in Skein, Norway on Nov. 5, 1849, the son of Sigrid and Anna Sampson, George had little opportunity to obtain an education. His father, a miner, died when George was four and the latter was early set at work herding cows.

His mother came to this country in 1867 and two years later, when he was 12, George crossed and joined her at Spring Valley, Minn. He farmed for two years and in 1871 made the acquaintance of William Roberts, a contractor at Mankato, Minn., and decided to learn the mason's trade. In 1873 he became a contractor at Spring Valley and in 1876 entered the same business here in Grinnell.

For several months he investigated the possibilities of operating as a contractor at Omaha, but returned to Grinnell in 1877 permanently. On Nov. 15, 1876 he was married to Mary Jane Stowe of Grinnell. His mother died during the same year.

George and Mrs. Sampson lived a long and happy married life. She died in 1932, two years after they had observed their 60th wedding anniversary. Two children were born to them--Lewis, who is still active as a contractor here; and Cora, Mrs. Samuel Pegram, of Muskogee, Okla., who died in 1936.

Until 1937 Mr. Sampson worked right along with his son and his assistants, but from that time until the fall of 1940 he "took it easy" and made no efforts to continue an active career. However, even then he frequently showed up on the job to help out for several hours at a time.

INJURED IN FALL

A little over a year ago he fell and broke his hip, and from that time on he was bedfast and confined at the hospital. His death was attributed mainly to old age.

Among the buildings in Grinnell for which he was contractor are the United Presbyterian church, Cooper school, the old Grinnell Herald building on Commercial street--next to Paul's Hatchery, the Chaffee block on Commercial, the Beyer and Manly and Gifford blocks on Fourth avenue, which house Large's Pharmacy and Schlue's Clothing store, respectively.

I.O.O.F. MEMBER

Besides his long period of affiliation with the Masonic lodge, Mr. Sampson was a member of the Odd Fellows for many years, also. He was a member of the Methodist church and a loyal member of the Bob Coutts Sunday school class.

Francis Tomasek will give the Masonic service at the funeral tomorrow and brother Masons will serve as pall bearers: Ross Coutts, F.F. Clindinin, Walter J. Neely, Jay Swaney, W.S. Smiley and Homer Richardson.

Survivors besides Lewis Sampson, include five grandchildren--Gerald Sampson and Mrs. Robert Peak of Grinnell, Lynn Sampson of Sioux City, and Ward and Arlene Pegram of Muskogee, Okla.