George Willis Cass
Arizona, The Youngest State, 1913

George Willis Cass, a leading and prominent attorney of 
Douglas, is now enjoying an extensive and lucrative practice, 
which has come to him as the reward of earnest endeavor and 
recognized ability.  He was born in Coshocton, Ohio in 1851 
and is a son of Abner L. and Margaret (Kerr) Cass.  The 
father was not only a prominent and successful physician 
and surgeon but also an able and farsighted politician 
well known in public life.  During the Civil War he was 
active in democratic politics, running as a candidate for 
state senate.  Affiliation with this party is a tradition 
in this family.  Abner L. Cass' uncle, Lewis Cass, having 
been democratic candidate for the presidency in 1848.  
After a long and active career, the various phases of 
which had influenced the professional life of Illinois 
and Ohio, Abner L. Cass died in 1887.  His wife has also 
passed away, her death having occurred in the same year.  
She was a daughter of Rev. Joseph Kerr, D.D., pastor of a 
Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and two of 
her brothers were also Presbyterian ministers.  She and 
her husband became the parents of five children, two of 
whom died in infancy.  The other are: Joseph , a paper 
manufacturer in New York City; Agnes who lives with her 
brother in New York and George Willis of this review.

George Cass grew to manhood in his father's home in Ohio 
and acquired his primary education in the district 
schools.  He entered Kenyon College at Gambier, Ohio 
in 1867 and was graduated in 1871.  He afterward took a 
post graduate course and four years later received his 
A.M. degree.  Having determined to study law, he entered 
the University of Michigan and was graduated with the 
degree of Ll.B. in 1874.  In the same year he went to 
Chicago and opened an office for his practice.  In 1901 
he abandoned professional life and turned his attention 
to business pursuits, becoming president of the Central 
Sugar Company and first president of the Chicago, 
Indianapolis and Louisville Railroad with headquarters 
in Chicago.

In 1903 Mr. Cass came to Arizona and two years later 
resumed the practice of law in Douglas.  He opened an 
office in partnership with Gid Graham and one year later 
severed this connection and associated himself with Albert 
M. Sames under the firm name of Cass and Sames.

In May 1879, Mr. Cass was united in marriage to Miss 
Rebecca Osborne, a native of Cleveland Ohio and a 
daughter of John O. Osborne, a native of England and 
formerly well known in the life and fire insurance 
business in Cleveland.  He had three children: Rebecca, 
Elizabeth, who married Thomas C Ahern, an attorney in 
Chicago; and Lillie A. who makes her home with her 
sister Mrs. Ahern.






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