GENRAL GEORGE J. ROSKRUGE
History of Arizona, 1896

The sons of Old England are well represented in Arizona and 
among them none hold a more conspicuous place than does General 
George J. Roskruge, whose determination and perseverance mark 
him as a true Englishman. He was born at Roskruge, near the 
town of Helston, Cornwall, April 10, 1845.  At the age of 
fifteen he obtained a place as messenger boy in the law offices 
of Grylls, Hill and Hill of Helston, and on the 12th of August 
1860, he entered the 7th Company of the Duke of Cornwall's Rifle 
Volunteers, serving ten years, during which time he distinguished 
himself as a rifle shot, being the winner of many company, 
regimental and all-comers' prizes.  On the 31 day of August 
1868, he was selected as one of the "Cornish Twenty" to 
complete with the "Devon Twenty" in the fourth annual match 
for the Challenge Cup, and for the two years prior to his 
resignation from the volunteer service he wore the "Three 
Stars" for being the crack shot of the company.

In October 1870 he emigrated to the United States, going 
directly to Denver, Colorado, where he was given employment 
by Lawrence n. Greenleaf and his partner, Gardner G. Brewer.  
After remaining in Denver for about two years, he with about 
twenty other adventurous spirits, determined to visit Arizona 
and after surviving perils of flood, droughts, famine and 
Apache Indians, reached Prescott in June 1872. In November 
of the same year he engaged with United States Deputy Surveyor 
Omar H. Case as cook and packer and was with Mr. Case when 
running the 5th standard parallel north from Partridge Creek 
to the Colorado River.  The following spring, he, as chainman, 
served with deputy Case and the following year, 1874, he spent 
several months in the field with United States Deputy Surveyor 
C.B. Foster and on returning from the field he prepared the 
maps and field notes for transmission to the surveyor general 
and it was on account of the neat and correct manner in which 
these were executed that induced the then surveyor general of 
Arizona, Hon. John Wasson to tender to General Roskruge the 
position of chief draughtsman in his office, which position 
was accepted and filled by him with credit to himself and the 
appointing power until June 1880, when he resigned and 
entered into business as a surveyor, receiving appointments 
as United States deputy land and mineral surveyor.

General Roskruge has served four terms as county surveyor of 
Pima County; three terms as city engineer of Tucson; one term 
as member of the Board of Regents of the University of Arizona; 
in 1888 was elected vice-president and in 1889 as president of 
the Tucson Building and Loan Association.  On the 1st of July 
1893 he accepted the position of chief clerk in the United 
States surveyor general's office and upon the resignation of 
the surveyor general in 1896, was by President Cleveland 
appointed surveyor general, the position he now holds.

In 1870 when he, with a companion, left New York for Denver 
and not having a large surplus of cash, they laid out $1.50 
in cheese and crackers, which provision, with the addition of 
a ten cent loaf bought at Omaha, lasted five days until they 
got to Denver and their first meal in that city was made off 
the remnants of the cheese and crackers.  Whilst in Denver, 
during the month of February 1871, the General being out of 
work and funds, borrowed a dollar from a friend and with it 
purchased tickets good for seventeen loaves of Graham bread. 
On this kind of food he existed for ten days, and shortly 
after entering Arizona, being camped at Volunteer Springs, 
now Belmont on the A& P R.R., he with three companions, 
after partaking of a breakfast consisting of twelve potatoes, 
these potatoes being the last of their provisions, started to 
walk to  Prescott, and three and one half days after, on 
Sunday morning, reached Mr. Banghart's in the Little Chino 
Valley, where they were provided with a square meal, being 
the first food that had passed their lips in eighty four 
hours.

He is 52 years of age, above medium height, and turns the scales 
at 130 lbs.  This lack of avoirdupois may well be attributed to 
his having to so often "take up another hole in his belt."

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