| Notes |
- GEORGE TERWILLIGER George Terwilliger, attorney at law, Justice of the Peace, Notary Public and insurance agent, at Fulton, was born in the town of New Scotland, Albany, N. Y., and is the son of John and Margaret (Reid) Terwilliger, his father being of Holland descent and his mother of Scotch.
At the age of nine years he moved with his parents to De Witt, Onondaga, N. Y., and remained with his father on the farm, receiving the ordinary common-school education, until he entered the Onondaga Academy, located at Onondaga Hollow, where he took a four years’ course and graduated in the class of 1850. He then commenced the study of the law with Forbes & Sheldon, in the city of Syracuse, and was admitted to practice in all the Courts of New York State on the 5th of July, 1852. During the time he was studying law he frequently assisted in editing the Syracuse Daily Journal, one of the leading newspapers in the interior of New York State, and after his admission to the Bar became editor-in-chief of that paper. He remained in this position for about two years, when he resigned on account of a change in the proprietorship, he being Free-Soil in his proclivities, while the new proprietors were pro-slavery in their views. Shortly after his resigning he was elected City Attorney of the city of Syracuse, receivng the highest vote cast for any one on his ticket except the candidate for City Treasurer. In 1857 he removed to New York city, where he practiced law, and was also honored with positions in the Custom House, and in the Tax Commissioner’s office. While a resident of New York he was admitted to practice in the United States District and Circuit Courts.
In the summer of 1870 he came West in accordance with a long considered intention, and purchased the Sterling Gazette, which paper he conducted with ability and success until March, 1872, when he sold out and moved to Fulton, purchasing the Fulton Journal. In the fall of 1872 he sold a one-half interest in the Journal to Dr. W. C. Snyder, now State Senator, he taking the editorial department, and Dr. Snyder the business department. In 1876 he sold his interest in the Journal, and virtually laid aside the editorial quill. When the Legislature of 1877 convened, his reputation was such that he easily secured a clerkship in the House of Representatives, and served during the session. In the spring of that year he was elected Justice of the Peace of Fulton, and on his return from Springfield entered upon the duties of his office. In June, 1877, he was employed in editing and compiling Bent’s History of Whiteside, and completed the work in the following January. At the session of the Legislature in 1879 he was elected First Assistant Secretary of the Senate, and was, re-elected at the session of 1881, the Senators being so well pleased with his services that at this session they presented him with an elegant gold watch. At the special session of 1881 he was elected Secretary of the Senate. During the years 1874, 1875 and 1876, he was City Clerk of the city of Fulton. He has been Justice of the Peace of the town of Fulton for eight years, and at the late spring election was again elected, without opposition, for four years more.
Mr. Terwilliger has been a member of the Masonic Order since 1862, having been made a Mason in New York city. He was married while editing the Syracuse Daily Journal, to Miss Matilda B. Fowler, daughter of John and Eliza Fowler, Mrs. Terwilliger being a native of New York city. They have two children, both girls: Lillian, wife of Henry H. Denton, of Newtown, Queens, N. Y., and Georgiana, unmarried.
Mr. T. is Republican in politics, and has been an active member of the party since its organization. He is a popular Justice, his thorough knowledge of law and judicial turn of mind enabling him to make his rulings and decisions in accordance with law and evidence, so that his judgments are seldom reversed. As a writer Mr. Terwilliger is favorably known throughout Northern and Western Illinois by his connection with the press, and his able compilation of the History of Whiteside County in 1877. (Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside, Illinois, Chapman Brothers Publishing, Chicago, 1885., Page 327).
In the 1850 Census of DeWitt, Onondaga NY, p. 337, Roll M432_570, George is listed as 22 years of age, and a “student at Law”
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1827 - 1892 (64 years)
Siblings
. Margaret E. TERWILLIGER, b. Abt 1854 d. Bef 1870 (Age < 15 years)
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