George C. Lohr Biography


	This biography appears on pages 94-97 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				GEORGE C. LOHR. 

	George C. Lohr is the efficient postmaster of Estelline, where he 
is also conducting a jewelry and drug business. He was born in Osage, 
Iowa, August 2, 1856, a son of Peter and Eva Lohr. The father, who was 
in the furniture and undertaking business in Osage, came to South 
Dakota in May, 1878, and preempted land where the town of Estelline now 
stands. He secured a tree claim covering the southeast quarter of 
section 24, Estelline township. On account of his business interests in 
Osage, Iowa, he could not remain upon his land, however, so surrendered 
his preemption to Thomas B. Elston, who proved up on it. Immediately 
after the father's return to Osage George C. Lohr and his brother, W. 
F., came to South Dakota and filed on a half section of land on section 
23, which property is still in possession of our subject and includes 
twenty acres of timber land. The winter following their arrival in this 
state the brothers purchased from Mr. Elston the original claim of 
their father. When they settled in this locality there were no other 
white inhabitants here and the prairies were covered with long grass on 
which hundreds of antelope fed. The father died in 1905 and the mother 
passed away in 1907. 

	George C. Lohr was the second in order of birth in a family of 
six children, five sons and one daughter. Spending his youthful days at 
the family home in Osage, Iowa, he there entered the public schools and 
passed through consecutive grades until he became a high-school 
student. Still later he pursued a course in the Cedar Valley Seminary 
at Osage. The father was in business in that city and George C. Lohr 
assisted him until his removal to South Dakota in 1878. He afterward 
gave his attention to farming in Hamlin county and when it was planned 
to found a town the family gave one hundred and sixty acres to be used 
as a townsite. Since that period George C. Lohr has been closely, 
prominently and helpfully associated with the upbuilding and 
development of this section. 

	In 1881 he was appointed postmaster of Estelline and has occupied 
that position for a quarter of a century, faithfully, capably and 
promptly discharging the duties of his office. He has held the position 
continuously except during the two democratic administrations of Grover 
Cleveland. For a time he was in partnership with his brother in the 
implement business and later he purchased the interests of Clark & 
Weygant in the drug store in 1883. In 1886 he removed to his present 
location. The building was destroyed by fire in 1895, but he rebuilt 
the following year. In addition to selling drugs he carries an 
attractive line of jewelry, meeting the demands of the public in this 
regard. During much of this time Mr. Lohr was also interested with his 
brother in cultivating two sections of land but at length sold most of 
his property, although he still retains ownership of the old homestead. 
He has become a most important factor in the establishment and 
development of the various prominent business interests of Estelline 
and this section of the state. He is one of the three owners of the 
Estelline Electric Company, owning the electric light plant and the 
telephone system. He is president of the Bank of Estelline, is 
treasurer of the Druggist's Mutual Fire insurance Company of South 
Dakota, is vice president of the Dempster State Bank, is secretary-
treasurer of the Farmers Elevator Company of Estelline, and it was 
practically through his labors that the Masonic Temple was built. In 
his vocabulary there is no such word as fail. He carries forward to 
successful completion whatever he undertakes. His plans are carefully 
formed but once completed are promptly executed. He seems to readily 
recognize the possibilities of any situation and in his work he looks 
beyond the exigencies of the moment to the opportunities of the future. 

	In 1889 Mr. Lohr was united in marriage to Miss Letha M. Abbott, 
who died in 1893, leaving two children: A. Louise, now Mrs. L. B. 
Gibbs; and Mabel E. On the 28th of November, 1912, Mr. Lohr was again 
married, his second union being with Anna L. Clark, a daughter of Amasa 
and Julia Clark. They were among the old-time settlers of the state and 
both have passed away. 

	Mr. and Mrs. Lohr are adherents of the Congregational church and 
their many sterling traits of character have won for them high regard. 
In politics Mr. Lohr is a republican and for a number of years was 
mayor of his city. He is a very prominent Mason, belonging to Denver 
Chapter, R. A. M., at Arlington; the Knight Templar Commandery at 
Brookings and Sioux Falls Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is also 
connected with the Elks at Watertown and with the Modern Woodmen of 
America, and both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. His 
life activities branch out along ramifying lines and make his work one 
of constantly broadening usefulness and value. What he has accomplished 
both for himself and for the community places him among the valued 
citizens of the state. Estelline largely stands as a monument to his 
efforts and enterprise, for he has been instrumental in founding and 
promoting many of its leading business interests and in upholding as 
well its moral, political and legal status.