Iowa
Old Press
State Register
Des Moines, Polk co. Iowa
June 22, 1902
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.
[transcribed by S.F., June 2006]