GEORGE T. WEST is most effectively giving administration in an important office in connection with the municipal government of Tiffin, Seneca County, in which city he is serving as service and safety director.

Mr. West was born in Seneca County, on the 20th of February, 1858, and is a son of Alexander D. and Sarah M. (Swigert) West, the former of whom was born in Eden Township, this county, and the latter was born in Pennsylvania. She was a girl when her parents came to Seneca County, Ohio, and established their home on a farm in Scipio Township, she and her future husband having been reared on farms only a mile apart. Mrs. West received the advantages of Heidelberg College, and prior to her marriage was a popular teacher in the schools of her home county. after his marriage Alexander D. West continued as a substantial exponent of farm enterprise in Bloom Township until his death, which occurred in 1884, his widow long surviving him and having been a resident of Van Wert, this state, at the time of her death in 1914. Both were zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. West went forth as a gallant soldier of the Union in the Civil war, he having taken part in army engagements and having served during virtually the entire period of conflict. He was mustered out with the rank of sergeant, and in later years he vitalized his interest in his old comrades by means of active affiliation with the Grand Army of the Republic. Of the six children only one is deceased. George T., of this sketch, is the eldest; Minnie E., is the widow of E.M. Crowe; William J. resides at Van Wert and is deputy sheriff of Van Wert County; Corwin S. is a farmer in Van Wert County, where he is serving as township trustee of Hoagland Township; and Ella M. is the wife of George J. Heyman.

George T. West passed his boyhood and early youth on the farm, and supplemented the discipline of the public schools by attending Ohio State Normal School at Republic. After leaving school he learned and followed the trade of stonecutter, and in 1907 he was appointed a guard at the Ohio State Penitentiary, where he remained thus employed about eighteen months. Thereafter he built up a substantial business as a contractor in stone construction work, especially in connection with the building of bridges, and with this line of business he continued his alliance, with headquarters at Tiffin, until he assumed his present city office. He is a republican in politics, is affiliated with the Junior Order United American Mechanics, and in their home city he and his wife are active members of Ebenezer Evangelical Church.

Mr. West married Miss Ruthena Kershner, and all of their nine children are now married and well established in life, namely: Nellie B., LeRoy M., Pearl, Myrtle M., Minnie, Edward J., Donald, Grace T. and Hazel.


File contributed for use in OHBios Project by
Gina Reasoner
GReasoner@prodigy.net
December 19, 1999

History of Ohio
The American Historical Society, Inc., 1925
Volume IV, page 371.