William Braxton George
Yellowstone County
History of Montana,Sanders 1913

He was born on a farm in Platte County Missouri, June 1, 1865 
and is a son of William Peyton and Frances Mary (Duncan) 
George.  The father of Mr. George was born in Fauquier 
County Virginia, February 1, 1835 and his present residence 
is at Camden point Missouri, white Mr. George's mother, a 
native of Platte County passed away in 1909.  They had a 
family of nine children, but four are living: Ida, wife of 
Thomas Bywater of Camden point, Missouri; William Braxton; 
Elizabeth who also lives at Camden point; and Clinton, a 
real estate man of San Antonio Texas.  William Peyton 
George was a young man when he first located in Missouri, 
and he there engaged in the general merchandise business.  
Some time after his marriage to the daughter of Judge Duncan 
he commenced farming on a property that was cultivated by 
slave labor, which had been given to the young couple by 
Judge Duncan and Mr. George's father and Mr. George after 
the war helped support them for a number of years.  He was 
engaged in farming and stock raising until 1895 in which 
year he retired.  He has always taken an active interest 
in educational matters and for many years served as a member 
of the school board while on his farm and as a director of 
the State Female Orphans School.

Like all his father's children, William B. George received 
excellent educational advantages, attending the public 
schools, William Jewell College, Liberty Missouri and the 
State University at Columbia Missouri and Eastman's 
Business College at Poughkeepsie New York.  He then 
returned to Platte County and for a year following was 
engaged in farming in the summer months and in teaching 
school during the winter term, and in the spring of 1886 
located in Helena Montana.  There he became assistant 
secretary of the Board of Education, then became assistant 
postmaster of Deer Lodge and was later railway postal clerk 
between Billings and Helena.  He next became assistant 
postmaster at Billings where in 1890 he engaged in the 
fruit, jewelry and confectionery business.  During that 
year he was elected City Treasurer and moved on to other 
important offices.

Mr. George's business interests are mainly connected with 
real estate and insurance.  As an organizer and developer 
in 1900 he platted the addition to the west side of the 
city and opened up a territory that is now occupied by the 
residences of some of Billings' leading men.  In 1904 he 
was one of the organizers of the State Fair, serving for 
six years as its president.  He is also the owner of one 
of the largest ranches, a tract of 7000 acres located 
seven miles west of the city and about 2500 acres are 
under cultivation, of which 100 acres are in orchard.  
The beautiful home of the George family is within one 
and one half miles of the city.  He owns his own breeding 
stables and has some fine driving horses.

On June 15, 1892 Mr. George was married to Miss Virginia 
Florence sleeper, who was born in Camden New Jersey, 
daughter of Nehemiah and Martha (Fleming) Sleeper, both 
of whom are deceased.  Mrs. George was the fourth in 
order of birth of a large family of children of whom 
six are living.  Her father was a Quaker, a prosperous 
businessman and a member of the City Council of 
Burlington New Jersey.  His wife, who was an accomplished 
musician was of Scotch-Irish descent.  Mr. and Mrs. 
George have had a family of 11children, of whom four 
died when quite young:  Raymond and William B. Jr. 
are attending high school; Preston B. is a student in 
the public schools, Marie, Virginia Florence, Robert 
and Mabel are at home. 

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