Sedgwick, George A. (Died 1939)

SEDGWICK, GOODROAD

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, volunteer (email)
Date: 8/7/2010 at 18:40:38

GEO. SEDGWICK
DIED TUESDAY

PASSED AWAY IN DES MOINES
AFTER LONG ILLNESS

Served as Postmaster in Hawarden
From 1907 to 1915—Will be
Buried Here Friday

George A. Sedgwick, former long time Hawarden resident and former
postmaster here, passed away at his home in Des Moines at 3:15 Tuesday
morning following an extended illness, He was obliged to give up work several
months ago and had failed steadily in recent weeks. Afflicted with an
incurable malady, the end was not unexpected.

George A. Sedgwick, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Sedgwick, was born at
Akron 59 years ago and the first few years of his life were spent at that
place. He came to Hawarden with his parents as a boy and attended the
public schools here, being graduated from the Hawarden high school in
1899. The following year he was appointed to a civil service position in
the census bureau and spent the next two or three years in Washington, D.
C. Returning from Washington about 1903, he was appointed deputy postmaster
by A. S. Colby and served in :his position for four years when he
succeeded Mr. Colby as postmaster.

He continued as postmaster for eight years, from 1907 to 1915, being first
appointed during the administration of President Theodore Roosevelt, and
was re-appointed under the Taft administration.

Retiring from the post mastership in 1915, he immediately
entered the employ of the Northwestern
Bell Telephone Company and has continued with this company ever
since. The Bell company was purchasing and consolidating lines in northwest
Iowa at the time Mr. Sedgwick entered their employ and for a few
months he worked in the Hawarden office and was then transferred to the
strict office at Storm Lake. He remained in Storm Lake for about four
years when he was transferred to the Des Moines office where he has since
held an executive position as an auditor for the company.

About the time he was appointed postmaster in 1907 he was united in
marriage with Miss Isadore Goodroad of Canton and she, with their daughter,
survive him. The daughter, Miss Janice, was torn while they were residents
of Storm Lake. He is also survived by two brothers, William E. and
Charles H. Sedgwick of Hawarden. Another brother, Joseph Sedgwick,
passed away more than twenty years ago.

During his residence here Mr. Sedgwick was always a leader in civic affairs
and was active in various fraternal and social organizations. He possessed
a splendid personality, had a gift for making acquaintances readily
and developing friendships and was never happier than when enjoying the
companionship of friends, in his home on the street or wherever he might
encounter them. Politics was a hobby with him which he never ceased to
enjoy. Although he never sought political office for himself after his
retirement from the postmaster ship he continued to make political contacts
all through the years for the sheer joy which it gave him to "play
the game." He thus enjoyed a wide acquaintance among public men
throughout the state and was frequently in a position to lend valuable
political assistance to his friends.
His personal life was clean and above reproach and he was held in the
highest esteem by his business associates.

Countless friends will extent sincere sympathy to the members of
his family.

Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock this afternoon at E. Car
White's Funeral Home in Des Moines with Rev. Ewing and Rev. Gallagher
officiating. The body will be brought to Hawarden Friday morning and funeral
services here will be held at the Barnard Funeral Home at 2 o'clock
Friday afternoon, with Rev. Robert F. Chapler, pastor of the Methodist
church, in charge. Interment will be in Grace Hill cemetery.

Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Sedgwick motored to Des Moines Monday, acorn
panied by Mrs. George Sedgwick's father, F. A. E. Goodroad of Canton
and Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Sedgwick went to Des Moines Tuesday.

The Hawarden Independent
Thursday, October 5, 1939
Hawarden, Iowa