George Harrison JEFFERSON

Jan 28 1854 - Mar 27 1933

*Obituary
Benton County Herald
Thursday, March 30, 1933

JEFFERSON, George Harrison - Funeral services for George H. Jefferson, aged 79 years, one month and 28 days, native of Bentonville and widely known retired pioneer Bentonville merchant, and at the time of his death probably the oldest local resident born in the town, who died at the old family home on B Street, N.E. at 10:30 o'clock Monday night, March 27th, 1933 following many weeks of critical illness, were held Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the Jefferson residence, conducted by the Rev. A.W. Henderson, pastor of the Bentonville Presbyterian Church, with interment in the family lot at the Bentonville cemetery. A son of Wayman W. and Elizabeth Spring Jefferson, who were among the earliest residents of Bentonville, George Harrison Jefferson was born here January 28th, 1854 not far from the homesite where he spent his married life and finally passed on with most of his children at his bedside. His father having died when he was one year old and his mother when he was only eleven, he was reared by his grandparents, William {Uncle Billy} and Cynthia Spring, whose names have gone down in the history of this section as outstanding pioneer citizens of Northwest Arkansas. Their home stood where now stands the Dr. Chas. E. Hurley home and hospital on North Main Street, and one of "Uncle Billy's" principal fields included much of what is now the northwest quarter of the town of Bentonville. Besides Mr. Jefferson this couple also reared four or five more of their grandchildren. On December 12th, 1875 at Cassville, Mo. Mr. Jefferson married Miss Louisa Susan Bates, a sister of the late Capt. A.J. Bates, and a member of another pioneer Arkansas family. To them were born eight children, five sons and three daughters, all of whom survive their father except one daughter, Miss Willie Pearl Jefferson, who died about 20 years ago. Mrs. Jefferson died 11 years ago. The surviving children are Wayman W. Jefferson, George H. Jefferson, Jr., Earl Jefferson and Walter J. Jefferson, all of Bentonville; A.J. {Jack} Jefferson of Girard, Kansas; Mrs. Ed Krick of Houston, Texas and Mrs. Frank DeLauis of Bentonville. All of these were with their father during his last illness and at the end except Jack Jefferson, who himself has been critically ill for the past month or more in a Girard hospital. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and by four great-grandchildren. Mr. Jefferson was widely known as a pioneer Bentonville business man and until retiring from active work several years ago had owned and operated a successful grocery store here since an early day, and in connection with his business, as in many other ways, he is known to have to have done, down through the years, a very great deal of charitable work and to have helped many a person who otherwise would have suffered from want. He was a veteran of the I.O.O.F. Order and a charter member of the local Odd Fellows Lodge. Early in life he was baptized in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and had a part in the erection of the old Cumberland Presbyterian Church building which still stands here in Bentonville, and in the construction of which many another northwest Arkansas pioneer also had a part. With the exception of considerable time spent in Texas in his early manhood and frequent extended visits to that state during his last years, Mr. Jefferson spent practically his entire life here in Bentonville and will be greatly missed as one of the most generally known and most unique characters among the older residents of this town and section.

*Obituary
Benton County Record & Democrat & Sun
Thursday, March 30, 1933

After an illness extending over a period of two years Geo. H. Jefferson, pioneer business man and oldest native born resident of Bentonville, died at the family residence in the northeast part of town Monday, March 27, 1933 at 10:30 p.m. Funeral services were held at the home Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 o'clock, the Rev. A.W. Henderson, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church conducting the services. Burial was made in the Bentonville cemetery. As a tribute of respect for this pioneer merchant and citizen, the business houses were closed during the funeral hour. Mr. Jefferson is survived by five sons, Walter, Earl, Wayman and George Jefferson of Bentonville and Jack Jefferson of Girard, Kansas; also by two daughters, Mrs. Nola DeLauis of the home and Mrs. Sue Krick of Houston, Texas. Also by a large number of relatives and friends to mourn his loss. Mr. Jefferson was born in Bentonville Jan. 28, 1854 and was the son of William and Elizabeth Jefferson who came to Bentonville in 1845. They built their log house on the site where the Hurley hospital now stands. With the exception of a few years he has lived his entire life in Bentonville. He died within sight of the place in which he was born. Mr. Jefferson's parents died during his childhood -the mother when he was but two years old and his father when he was 11. He was reared by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William Spring. Mr. Jefferson and Louisa S. Bates were married at Cassville, Mo. on Dec. 12, 1875. She passed away in 1921. Mr. Jefferson was in business here for nearly 50 years and for 30 years operated a grocery store next to the Record and Democrat office.

Contributed on 10/16/12 by wfields55
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Record #: 767355

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