Denver, History of Colorado, BIOS: HAMBURGER, George Jr. (published 1918) *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00015.html#0003643 October 25, 1999 *********************************************************************** "History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. (1918) Vol. II p. 319-320 GEORGE HAMBURGER, JR. George Hamburger, Jr., is the president of the George Hamburger Tool & Supply Company of Denver. It is true that he had the benefit of his father's experience and advice in the initial stages of his business career, but in enlarging and controlling his interests many a man of less resolute spirit would have tailed. Thoroughly conversant with all the practical features of the business and imbued by an enterprising spirit, combined with initiative, Mr. Hamburger has carried forward the interests of the house, which is today one of the important concerns of the kind in Colorado. He is a native son of Denver, born October 8, 1885, upon the site of the present plant of the George Hamburger Tool & Supply Company. It was there that his father erected his home about 1881 and there the family resided until 1891. George Hamburger, Sr., came to America in 1869, settling first at St. Louis, Missouri, where he was engaged in the harness business and also in the butchering business, having thoroughly mastered both trades. In the fall of 1872 he removed to Colorado, making his way direct to Denver, where he immediately entered upon the harness and saddlery manufacturing business, in which he continued until 1891. He then sold to the Denver Saddlery Company, which business from a small start was developed to the leading harness and saddlery house of Colorado. In 1891 Mr. Hamburger retired from active connection with manufacturing lines and devoted his time and finances to real estate until 1893, when he established the Hamburger & Eckert brewing and bottlers supply business, in which he continued for three years. He then reentered the real estate and investment field, in which he continued successfully until his death, which occurred on the 1st of April, 1917, when he was sixty-nine years of age. In the meantime, in connection with his son and namesake, he established the George Hamburger Tool & Supply Company, which was incorporated October 8, 1910, with George Hamburger, Jr., as the president and his father as the secretary and treasurer. George Hamburger, Sr., married Elsie Madlung, a native of Alsace- Lorraine, who came to America in early life and settled in Denver, where she met and married Mr. Hamburger. They became the parents of three children, of whom one died at the age of six years, while the daughter, Lydia, is now the wife of Harry H. Post, residing at No. 801 York street in Denver. George Hamburger, Jr., the other member of the family, pursued his education in the public schools of Denver, in the Manual Training high school and in the University of Colorado, from which he was graduated as a mechanical engineer in 1907. After his graduation he followed that profession for a short time and afterward became associated with the Henry Ford Automobile Company of Denver, after which he entered into connection with the Automobile General Supply Company as manager. He was next associated with M. L. Foss in the hardware tool supply business, with which he was active for two years, and it was this step in his business career that was the initial force in the development of his present interests. As stated, he became associated with his father in the organization of the George Hamburger Tool & Supply Company and on the 23d of February, 1912, the business was reincorporated with Mr. Hamburger of this review as the president, his wife, Mrs. Maude Hamburger, as the vice president, and his father, George Hamburger. Sr., as secretary and treasurer. Since the death of the father, Mr. Hamburger has been both president and treasurer, while Mrs. Hamburger is the vice president and secretary. The Hamburger Tool & Supply Company is largely of a wholesale and jobbing character and is one of the largest in the Rocky Mountain states, the business extending over Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah. The firm employs on an average of five traveling men and a large corps of clerks and office help. They carry supplies for machinists, auto garages, novelty shops and bicycle shops and a general line of mill supplies and also handle a complete line of metals and hardware. The store covers a floor space of thirty by one hundred and fifty feet and the building is three stories in height. They also have a warehouse at Twenty-second and Arapahoe streets of equal size. In addition to his activities as president and treasurer of the Hamburger Tool & Supply Company, Mr. Hamburger is executor of his father's estate and is very thorough, painstaking and exact in its administration. He possesses an inventive turn of mind and has ever been most studious along the lines to which he has directed his attention. Mr. Hamburger was married in Denver, at the United Presbyterian church, by the late Rev. James Rankins, on the 20th of September, 1909, to Miss Maude A. Burnett, a native of Denver and a daughter oŁ B. F. Burnett, a representative of an old Colorado family, and Clara (McGrew) Burnett. Both are still living, residents of Denver. Mr. Hamburger's mother is also yet a resident of Denver. To Mr. and Mrs. Hamburger has been born a son, George Benjamin, whose birth occurred in Denver, January 5, 1912. Mr. Hamburger obtains his principal recreation through motoring and fishing. Thoroughness characterizes him in all that he undertakes. He has not dissipated his energies over a broad field but has concentrated his efforts and attention upon the line of his present activity and upon study in connection therewith. He is constantly striving to promote the service that the house renders to its patrons and the enterprise and integrity of his business methods have placed him in the front rank among those in his line in Colorado. In politics he maintains an independent course, while fraternally he is connected with the Masonic lodge and chapter and is a loyal adherent to the teachings of the craft. He likewise belongs to the Denver Civic and Commercial Association.