Johan Martin and Marianna Georger
Johann Martin Georger was born in 1796 in Röschwoot, Alsatia. After
leaving school he learned the hat making and furrier trade. He married
Marianna Heyl, who first saw the light of the world on March 25, 1800 in
Zabern, Alsatia. He emigrated with his family to America in July of
1847. The Georgers settled in Buffalo. Their sons had already settled
here a few years before. Mr. Georger died on January 29, 1859. His wife
died on July 23, 1882. The marriage produced 6 children: F.A. Georger,
Karl Georger, Julie, who was married to F.F. Günther in New York, Frank
Georger, Rosa, the wife of Mr. Edward Harries, and Fannie, who is
married to Mr. Karl Adam. Of the children only the last 3 are still
alive.
F. Augustus Georger,
the eldest son of Mr. J.M. Georger, was born on August 10, 1821 in
Lauterbach, Alsatia. He attended the public school in his home district
and emigrated at the young age of 17 to the United States. In 1839 he
settled in Buffalo when the small number of inhabitants had among them
few Germans. He procured a position as a store clerk in a dry goods
store. Through energetic and honest effort he succeeded in becoming self
sufficient in 1843 and opened up a firm in partnership with Jacob Beyer.
The flourishing firm was called Georger and Beyer, a dry goods business,
and it was located at 520 Main Street. In 1848 he took over full
ownership of the business and he continued to operate it until 1862 when
he sold it in order to assume the position of Secretary of the Western
Savings Bank. Two years later he established his own banking business
with Augustus Paul at 518 Main Street. The firm's name was Georger &
Paul, from which originated the founding of the German Bank, which we
have today. Mr. Georger had a lot to do with the establishment of the
German Bank. He served as President of that financial institute until
his death. In the course of the years it has become powerful and today
it is counted among the most solid of institutions in the United States.
Mr. Georger was undoubtedly one of the best known, most influential and
most prominent German citizens in the city. He did much to contribute to
the raising and prospering of Buffalo's business interests. He was an
avid supporter of the German community as demonstrated by the advice he
had given and the actions he had taken. He was one of the co-founders
and supporters of the German Young Men's Association. He was elected its
first President, an office to which he was reelected on the golden
jubilee of its founding in 1891. He was a lifelong member of the
Orpheus. He was married to Barbara Sigwalt and from the union came
Eugene A. Georger, successor to his father at the bank, Mrs. Frank
Brazington and Mrs. John Bartow, both of whom are living in Cleveland.
Mr. Georger died after a short illness on June 27, 1898.
Karl ( Charles) Georger,
the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Johann Martin Georger, was born on
November 16, 1822 in Lauterbach, Alsatia. He acquired a sound albeit
modest education in his district. He learned the hat making and furrier
trade like his father. He emigrated to the United States in 1841 and
settled in Buffalo. Here he opened a fur and hat business, in which his
brother Frank later came in as partner. It soon became one of the
significant businesses in the city. Mr. Georger married Miss Dorothea
Schuh, who gave him 6 children, all of whom still live in Buffalo.
Counted among the most respected of businessmen as is his brother, Mr.
Georger died on March 18, 1892. His surviving widow lives at 904 Main
Street.
Frank Georger
was born on March 31, 1829 in the town of Lauterbach, Lower Alsatia,
which is famous for its hop gardens. Until his 14th year he attended the
town school and then learned the hat making and furrier trade. In May of
1847 the 18-year-old emigrated to America and settled a month later in
Buffalo, where he lived for the rest of his life. He raised himself up
to become one of the most respected and prominent German businessmen in
the city. The firm F. Georger & Son, which conducted a significant hat
and fur business, enjoyed an envious reputation beyond the city limits
because of his good business sense. Mr. Georger never sought or held
public office, however he was an avid promoter of German endeavor:
whenever there was the opportunity to support German enterprise you'd
find him standing in line to help. He was an active, lifelong member of
the German Young Men's Association and he participated in the golden
jubilee of this old German-American society in 1891. A few years earlier
Mr. Georger was an honory member of the Buffalo Liedertafel (Glee club)
and he was an active member of the Orpheus. Mr. Georger was not
connected directly with commercial enterprise but he did enjoy great
success. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Buffalo
Savings Bank, an extremely well-situated financial institution in the
city. Mr. Georger married Eliza Jane Lawrence on September 5, 1854. The
marriage produced 4 sons who are all established in Buffalo, and like
their father, considered among the most respected and prominent
businessmen in the city. Mr. Georger lives at 159 Prospect Avenue.
