Shawnee County KS Archives Biographies.....Wilmarth, George O. 1843 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com November 20, 2006, 10:47 pm

Author: James L. King (1905)

GEORGE O. WILMARTH.

    GEORGE O. WILMARTH, chief of the Fire Department of Topeka, is one of the
pioneers of this city, where he has resided since 1859, and is the second oldest
fire chief in the United States at the present time. He is one of the city's
most popular and efficient public servants, and has speaking acquaintance with
more of the citizens, possibly, than has any other man.

    Mr. Wilmarth was one of two children born to Otis and Julia Wilmarth. He was
born April 23, 1843, in Rhode Island, where he was reared and received a good
education in the public schools. In his native State he engaged in the
mercantile business for a number of years, and in 1859 he came West to^ Topeka,
Kansas. Here he engaged in the mercantile business until 1872, when he was made
chief of the Fire Department, a position he has since filled. At that time the
department was small and its work inefficient. He has devoted the best years of
his life to developing a fire department of which the city may well feel proud.
His efforts have been appreciated and he to-day occupies an enviable position in
the public esteem. He has four engine houses and a force of 39 men under his
charge. He has made a thorough study of the fire systems of the various cities
of the country, and has been quick to suggest such improvements as were
desirable, with the result that Topeka has the best service of any city in the
State. Mr. Wilmarth is the second oldest chief in the United States, the oldest
being Thomas O'Connor, of New Orleans, Louisiana.

    Our subject was married to Mary A. Starkey and they have a son, Charles B.,
a successful fruit-grower of California. Mr. Wilmarth is a member of the Masonic
order; Knights of Pythias; Odd Fellows; Red Men; and United Workmen. In
politics, he is a stanch Republican. He and his wife are members of the First
Congregational Church, and reside at No. 1101 Eighth avenue.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF SHAWNEE COUNTY, KANSAS
AND
REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

EDITED AND COMPILED BY
JAMES L. KING
TOPEKA, KANSAS 

"History is Philosophy Teaching by Examples"

PUBLISHED BY
RICHMOND & ARNOLD,
GEORGE RICHMOND; C. R. ARNOLD.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,
1905.

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