My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE W. McNEMER. Among the representative, thorough-going and trustworthy officials of Schuyler County, there is probably no one more deserving of mention than Mr. McNemer, who holds the responsible office of Supervisor of the town of Reading. Although retiring and unpretentious in manner, he has always been a strong factor in the community. As he has always been honorable and upright in all his relations with the public, they have the satisfaction of knowing that their confidence in him is not misplaced.

Mr. McNemer is the son of Mathew McNemer, whose birth occurred in Ireland in June, 1826. His mother, prior to her marriage Lettie Ann Jackson, was a native of Westchester County, N. Y., and was born in 1827. After their marriage they located in North Salem, that county, and after various removals we find them in Birmingham, Conn., where Mrs. McNemer died in 1862. The father now makes his home in Somers, this state. The parental household included two children, of whom our subject was the elder. His brother, Charles J , is a resident of New York City.

George W. McNemer was born in North Salem, Westchester County, May 29, 1850. He remained under the parental roof until the death of his mother, when, the household being broken up, he was thrown on his own resources, and although only a lad of twelve years was obliged to look out for himself. Two years previous to this time, however, he had worked in a factory, but when deprived of his mother’s care found employment on a farm near Huntington, Conn. There he remained until 1866, when he came to Schuyler County, this state, where he was also employed to work out on farms by the month. This state of affairs continued until the fall of 1868, when, ambitious of securing a better education, and having saved $365 of his earnings, he entered Starkey Seminary, in Yates County. After conducting his studies there for two years, he worked at the carpenter’s trade during the summer months and taught school in the winter season for the succeeding four years.

Mr. McNemer was married about this time, and engaged in cultivating property, which he rented. It was not until five years thereafter that he was enabled to purchase land of his own, but at the end of that time invested his earnings in the farm on which he was residing. He was very prosperous in every undertaking, and from time to time added to his place until now his farm includes one hundred and sixty-five excellently cultivated acres.

Mr. McNemer was married in Reading, September 9, 1874, to Miss Lillie M. Sutton, daughter of Carlos H. and Maria (Eggleston) Sutton, both old and honored residents of this community. Mr. and Mrs. Sutton became the parents of two children, Lillie M. and Harry E. Mrs. McNemer was born in Reading December 23, 1853, and was well educated in the schools near her home. Our subject and his wife have one daughter, Grace, who is now fourteen years old.

In February, 1893, our subject was elected upon the Democratic ticket to his present position, that of Supervisor. He has also been Justice of the Peace, and for two years was Road Commissioner. It is impossible to mention all the services rendered the community by Mr. McNemer; suffice it to say, therefore, that his good name is above reproach and that he has won the confidence, respect and esteem of all who know him, and is one of the most popular men who have held official positions in the county.

Mrs. McNemer is a member of the First Baptist Church of Reading, and although not connected by membership with this denomination, her husband is Chairman of the Board of Trustees and gives liberally toward the support of the church. He is likewise Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, is one of the Trustees of Starkey Seminary, and is President of Reading Farmers’ Alliance No. 681. In addition to his farming interests, for the past six years he has been engaged in the hay and grain business in Reading with Messrs. I. E. Overton and F. A. Smith, the firm name being Overton & Co.