Sunday, April 19, 2009

Back to Town Characters

George Fell Slocum, born in Wilkes-Barre August 10, 1812, younger son of Joseph and Sarah (Fell) Slocum, spent his whole life here.

In November, 1838, in partnership with Elijah W. Reynolds, he engaged in mercantile business—opening "a new stock of dry goods, groceries, hardware, glassware, etc., at the stand lately occupied by Charles B. Drake, next door to Butler's steam-mill, on the "east side of Public Square."

At Clinton, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, January 19, 1842, Slocum was married to Mary N. (born in 1820), daughter of John Grandin of that place. She died at Wilkes-Barre August 8, 1845, being survived by her husband and one son. At that time Mr. Slocum was still engaged in mercantile business in Wilkes-Barre, and was also a Major in the Pennsylvania militia.

In 1847 he began the erection, on the south side of the Public Square, of a three and a-half story brick building for hotel purposes. The building was not completed until the Spring of 1851, when it was named the "American House." It was separated from the residence of Joseph Slocum by an alley.

In May, 1855, Major Slocum was appointed by Governor Pollock of Pennsylvania an aide on his staff, with the rank of Lieut. Colonel.

Colonel Slocum died at the home of his brother-in-law, Charles B. Drake, on South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, March 19, 1856, and was buried in Hollenback Cemetery—his remains being the first to be interred "in this City of the Dead," as the inscription on his tombstone states. (Oscar Jewell Harvey)