BIO: George S. Billmeyer, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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Pennsylvania A History.  George P. Donehoo, Editor-in-Chief.
Chicago/New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., Inc., 1928.
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Page 41-43

GEORGE S. BILLMEYER--One of the most beautiful lives that have graced the 
community of York was translated into a larger and brighter sphere for which he 
had been many years preparing when George S. Billmeyer, long active in business, 
church and benevolent work in his home city, was suddenly called upon to leave 
the tabernacle which this noble soul had energized to a degree of usefulness 
rarely excelled by one of his kind.  He was noted for his outstanding traits of 
fidelity in all his undertakings, a large and proved capacity for doing things 
that were worth while, a simple and loving disposition, loyalty to his friends 
and devotion to his church, which he served long and efficiently in offices of 
varied character and responsibility.  From the city of York and those 
associations in which he had been an intimate member there was taken in his 
passing a model business man, a citizen of acknowledged worth and a kindly and 
helpful neighbor.  His connection in an official or other capacity with leading 
York business and public service enterprises, and his prominent identification 
with religious and allied institutions in an official or advisory association, 
had served to make all those organizations feel their dependability upon him in 
a large measure, and their loss, on that account, was very grievous.  The entire 
community, it might truly be said, mourned his departure from their midst.

George S. Billmeyer was born in York, Pennsylvania, June 7, 1849, died at his 
home in that city January 13, 1917, the eldest son of Charles and Elizabeth 
(Kolb) Billmeyer, his father one of the founders of the Billmeyer & Small 
Company, which established a large plant for the manufacture of passenger and 
freight cars in York seventy years ago, and for many years this company was 
among the largest manufacturers of cars in the United States.  Immediately 
following the Civil War, the company attained a wide acquaintance among the 
railroad constructors of the country and assisted in the promotion of several 
western railroads which have become large factors in the development of the 
territory which they traverse.  The company also played a large part in the 
building up of the city of York.  The ancestors of Mr. Billmeyer were early 
residents of the York community.  His grandfather, Andrew Billmeyer, established 
a printing house for the printing of the Holy Bible and other books in Yorktown 
about 1794.  George received his elementary training in the schools of his 
native town, and prepared for college at the York County Academy.  He entered 
Princeton University and was a member of the class of 1871.

His education complete, Mr. Billmeyer directed his attention to filling a 
business career, for which, by birth and breeding, he was adapted.  He became a 
member of the firm of Billmeyer & Small Company, and with intelligence and 
characteristic energy gave himself to the task of familiarizing himself with al 
the details of the business, which had been established in 1845 as H. Small's 
Sons & Company, the style later becoming Billmeyer & Small Company.  Mr. 
Billmeyer's father died in November, 1875, and his son George took over his 
interests in the company.  In 1876 the business was incorporated as the 
Billmeyer-Small Company, and on the death of John H. Small, in 1902, Mr. 
Billmeyer was elected president of the company, and was, for the last fifteen 
years of his life, the only surviving member of the firm.

Other leading corporations, industrial, financial and of public service, with 
which Mr. Billmeyer was officially connected, were: Vice-president and director 
and chairman of the executive committee which built the present reservoir and 
planned the impounding dam of the New York Water Company; director of the York 
Gas Company, the York Trust Company, the Columbia Water Company, York 
Improvement Company, Susquehanna Turnpike Company, Chanceford Turnpike Company, 
Gettysburg Gas Company, York Steam Heat and Power Company and Edison Electric 
Light Company; was one of the original directors of the York Chariot Line, which 
later developed into the York Railways Company; and a director and treasurer of 
the J. E. Baker Company.

Apart from his business interests, which at heart he subordinated to the other, 
his lifelong devotion to the church, benevolent and philanthropic institutions 
and causes, was the result of the compelling motive of his career.  As a child 
of four years, he entered, in 1852, the Sunday School of the First Presbyterian 
Church of York, and then began that period of unbroken allegiance which only 
terminated in his death.  He became a member of Class 3, of which Joseph Root 
was teacher.  In 1870 he was elected assistant secretary and held that office 
for more than forty-five years.  Beginning with 1886, he annually, at his own 
expense, awarded the premiums on Children's Day for the memorizing of the 
Scripture and the shorter Catechism and for regular attendance upon the sessions 
of the school.  He himself had an almost unbroken record for attendance, but one 
absence on account of illness being known.  In the church itself he occupied a 
large and influential position, and for twenty-eight years served that body as a 
trustee, having also served the Temperance Society, connected with the Sunday 
School, as its secretary from 1866 to 1917 a period of fifty-one years.  He was 
a trustee and secretary of the York County academy, and always greatly 
interested in the education of the young people.  During the last forty years of 
his life he had at least one and sometimes three and four young people attending 
colleges, who, without his assistance, would have been unable to obtain a higher 
education.  He was a trustee of the York Young Women's Christian Association 
from its organization until his death; a director and secretary of the York 
Hospital board; and one of the early directors of the York Young Men's Christian 
Association.  These organizations have, since his death, officially expressed 
their irreparable loss in worthy testimonials and unstinted appreciation and 
commendation of his exceptional character and of his fidelity through all the 
years of varied and multiplied activities.

George S. Billmeyer married (first) Gunna Augusta Hauser.  She died in January, 
1902, and in March, 1904, he married (second) Fannie Edwards Evans, who survives 
him.

In memory of Mr. Billmeyer, his sister, Mrs. J. E. Baker, presented to the First 
Presbyterian Church of York, on May 20, 1917, a beautiful and stately pulpit.  
It is a fine acquisition to the church furnishings, and a solid and impressive 
structure, its lines of grace well befitting the other appointments of the 
auditorium.  "As a memorial it also harmonizes with the eloquent testimony to 
Mr. Billmeyer's life and service to the church, and more especially to the 
Sunday School that has been given by the various organizations since his death.  
The Sunday school, the Temperance Society, the Brotherhood have all in the most 
emphatic way testified to his devotion and his increasing labors of love on 
their behalf, while within and without the church upwards of 300 written 
tributes bear witness to the usefulness of his life from the far-reaching 
influence that flowed from it."

The Sunday school of the First Presbyterian Church adopted the following 
"minute", January 21, 1917:


We record with genuine sorrow the death of our secretary, Mr. George S. 
Billmeyer, which occurred January 13, 1917.

Mr. Billmeyer's record needs no encomium.  Its equal is seldom found in the 
annals of religious work.  Led to the school by the hand of a friend in 1852, at 
the age of four years, he early began that long period of allegiance which has 
just ended.  And although the abatement of his usual vigor had been apparent in 
recent months, his fidelity was undiminished.  The last Sunday of his life found 
him at his desk.

More than forty-five years he has been the secretary.  His attendance was almost 
unbroken.  But one absence on account of illness is known.  When out of town on 
Sunday, which rarely occurred, he took particular pains to attend a Sabbath 
school.  All his plans, whether of business or pleasure, he subordinated to his 
duty here.  Here was his heart.

Since 1886 Mr. Billmeyer has annually, at his own cost, awarded the premiums at 
Children's Day.  Lately these have mounted to considerable numbers.  Every gift 
he selected particularly as suited to the person intended.  In his customary 
kindness he found true joy and took just pride.

He possessed a knowledge of the details of the school, both past and present, 
that was unsurpassed; it was complete.  Each Sunday morning he was early at his 
place to greet members and visitors as they came.  His work was well done.  He 
attained a place in the front rank of the consecrated men who have labored here.

We all shall miss him.  His place is vacant.  In his death the school sustains 
an immeasurable loss.  But the memory of him in the future, as his example did 
in the past, will encourage everyone, officers, teachers and scholars, to 
diligent service.

Resolved, That this minute be placed upon the records of the school; that a copy 
be sent to Mrs. Billmeyer, with our deep sympathy in this bereavement which we 
share, and that a copy be published in the papers.

   W. McConkey Kerr,    Henry Small,
   Walter B. Hays,      Henry E. Powell,
   H. S. Myers, Sr.,              Committee.

The Brotherhood of the First Presbyterian Church recorded its sorrow at the 
death of Mr. Billmeyer, who was one of its charter members:

Mr. Billmeyer's life was eminently qualified to express the spirit of 
brotherhood.  In his endeavor to serve this organization of our church he 
displayed toward all that spirit of wholesome cordiality and brotherliness which 
is especially attactive to the stranger who seeks the companionship of the 
church.  His fidelity has been emphasized in every resolution presented, yet it 
cannot be too often repeated that this was the master power in his life.  
Faithfulness was the propelling force that enabled him to "spend and be spent" 
for others.  He gave unselfishly of his marvelous energy in an endeavor to make 
both the Brotherhood and the Church a center of Christian activity and 
usefulness.  In short, Mr. Billmeyer did his part in creating among us a spirit 
of brotherhood that is worthy of emulation.

                                 C. L. HAINES, SECRETARY.

Like a benediction in the precious memory of Mr. Billmeyer's implicit reliance 
upon the Word of God, from which he gathered consolation, courage and assurance.