Past and Present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana. Indianapolis, Indiana: BF
Bowen, 1913 p.p. 355 -- T.H. McGeorge, Jr. -- It is the progressive, wide-awake men of
affairs that make the real history of a community, and their influence as a potential
factor of the body politic is difficult to estimate. T.H. McGeorge, Jr. is one of the
leading business men of this section of the state and has long filled with eminent
satisfaction the office of mayor of the city of Covington, and as such it is proper that a
review of his career be accorded a place among the representative citizens of the city and
county in which he resides. His administration of the municipality has been characterized
by conservatism and progress and his foreseeing ability and careful methods have gone far
to place the city in the enviable position in which it now stands. Mr. McGeorge is a
scion of one of our most sterling and highly honored pioneer families and is a worthy
native son of the locality embraced in this volume, his birth having occurred in
Covington, Fountain County, Indiana August 19, 1868, and he is the son of T.H. McGeorge,
Sr., and Anna G. Stewart McGeorge. The father was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in the year
1832 and the mother was a native of Fountain County, this state. The elder McGeorge came
to Indiana when a young man, and, having learned the mechanic's trade in his youth,
established a foundry at Covington in 1856, doing an excellent grade of work. However,
upon the last mentioned date he began in the farm machinery and implement business in
which he met with a large measure of success from the first and which he continued until
his death in 1906 at age 72. He was an excellent business man and by close application
and good management accumulated a competency, in fact, was one of the leading men of
affairs of his day in this locality, and wielded a potent influence in public affairs,
doing much for the early development of Covington. Being a public-spirited man, his
support could always be depended upon in furthering any laudable movement for the
betterment of his town and county, giving freely of his time and means. He was a man of
honorable character and obliging nature, and many charitable acts could be related of him.
To T.H. McGeorge, Sr., were born five children,three here sons and two daughters, named
as follows: Alice, who resides at El Campo, Texas; Elizabeth has remained din Covington
Indiana; Isa is a resident of Newcastle, Colorado, TH Jr of this sketch and Hershel, who
is deceased. T.H. McGeorge, Jr. spent his boyhood like most youths in a small town between
a quarter and a half century ago, and he received a good, practical education in the
common and high schools of his native town. He has spent his life in Covington, believing
that better opportunities existed for him right at his own door than were to be found in
some remote locality to which the wanderlust spirit directs so many of our youths who had
better have remained at home. After leaving school young McGeorge engaged in business
with his father, and, being a willing worker and a keen observer, he soon mastered the ins
and outs of the implement business, literally growing up in the same, so that his
pronounced success in this line in later years was a matter of course, in fact, he has
never engaged in any other business, having succeeded to full management of the same two
years before the death of his father, the firm name having been since then T.H. McGeorge
Jr, & Company, being capitalized at 17,000 dollars. It is one of the best known of
its kind in western Indiana and it draws its hundreds of customers from a vast territory,
covering the major portion of four counties. All kinds of farming machinery and
implements are handled of the best and most approved patterns, a full and carefully
selected stock being carried at all seasons, and, the farmer, knowing that here may be
purchased every labor-saving device known to the husbandman at a reasonable price, and
also that he will receive the fairest and most courteous treatment possible, remains a
continuous customer. Mr. McGeorge is first VP of the Tri-State Implement Dealers
Association. Mr. McGeorge was married in 1891 to Elizabeth Slattery, daughter of John and
Elizabeth McCabe Slattery, a highly respected family who came to Covington in the 60s and
here became well established. Mrs. McGeorge grew to womanhood here and received a good
education in the public schools. The union of the subject and wife has been blessed by
the birth of five children, three of whom are now living, namely: Luke E, who is at this
writing a student in Purdue University at Lafayette, Indiana, in his sophomore year; he is
taking the electrical engineering course and is making a fine record; Richard Hugh is
attending the high school in Covington; John R is a pupil in the home graded schools. Mr.
McGeorge has been very successful as a business man and has become one of the substantial
men of his county; besides his large and modern store, he has an attractive and commodious
home, in the midst of pleasant surroundings. His place of business is at the osutheast
corner of the courthouse square. His home is on Fourth Street. Politically, Mr. McGeorge
is a loyal Democrat and has long been a leader in local affairs as affecting his party.
He was city clerk from 1892 to 1904, filling the position in a manner that reflected much
credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned, his long continuance in
office being a criterion of his high standing in the city of his residence. He was then
elected mayor and is now serving his third year in this office, and according to the
consensus of opinion, he is one of the best, most progressive and able chief executives
that the city has known in all her history, having at heart the welfare of the people and
delighting in the growth of his native community, always standing ready to support most
heartily any movement looking to the material, civic or moral uplift of the same.
Fraternally, Mr. McGeorge is active and prominent, holding membership with the Masonic
order, the Knights of Pythias, Improved Order of Red Men and Independent Order of Odd
Fellows. Born here 44 years ago, Mr. McGeorge has worked incessantly for the benefit of
his fellow men and for the welfare of the place of his birth, while laboring for his
individual advancement, as is necessary and right for everyone to do. Gifted by nature
with faculties and powers beyond the ordinary, he has used these for the accomplishment of
good. He is a man of genial address of firm and unflinching character, but alwys tempered
with kindness, solving all public questions with justice and equity.