San Diego County Biographies
 
GEORGE M. DANNALS

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


Of San Diego, was born in Rochester, New York, November 2, 1844. His father, R. 
M. Dannals, was a native of New York. His mother, Susan (Bell) Dannals, daughter 
of Dr. Bell, was also of New York. Mr. Dannals is a descendent of the Holland 
Dutch who located in the Mohawk Valley. His father was a contractor and builder. 
Mr. Dannals left his home in 1867, and to fit himself for a business life, took 
a course in a commercial college. After leaving college some good genius put it 
into his head to learn a trade. He consequently learned the carpenter's trade.
        When twenty years of age he offered his services to his country as a 
soldier, and was enrolled July 26, 1864. At that time the great war had assumed 
gigantic proportions, and as thousands upon thousands of our brave men had died 
in prison, and had been slain on many a bloody battlefield, 1864, of all the 
years in the history of the United States since the days of Valley Forge, was 
the time that tried the patriotism and courage of its citizens, and to enlist in 
such a war at such a time was a most grand and heroic deed. He enlisted in 
Company E, Fifty-fourth New York Infantry, which was composed mostly of young 
men. They were sent to Elmira, New York, to guard prisons, and to aid in 
preventing bounty jumping, and to aid in forwarding troops to the front. He was 
in the United States service 110 days, and after being mustered out in November, 
1864, he was soon engaged as chief clerk in a railroad freight office. March, 
1867, he went to Nevada County, California, where he engaged in the mercantile 
business, dealing in mining supplies. They bought gold dust, and did a lucrative 
business. From there he went to San Francisco, and then came to San Diego and 
went to the Julian mines in 1870. He was there until 1876. They had a long and 
severe struggle to set aside the Mexican land grant, which menaced their mines 
and threatened to take them from them. He came out of this successfully, but 
very much injured financially, as it took a large amount of money to bring it to 
a close. In 1871 and '72 he was elected a member of the California Legislature. 
While at the mines, Mr. Dannals was agent for Wells, Fargo & Co., and 
Post�aster, and had all kinds of experiences. Soon after this the mines were 
closed, and Mr. Dannals became bookkeeper and cashier for the firm of Klauber & 
Levi. He had full charge of the finances of the company, including the banking. 
He was with them nearly eleven years, and during the boom, was paying teller of 
the First National Bank of San Diego, and had plenty to do in the then great 
rush of business. He was afterward cashier of the bank of San Diego, which was 
afterward consolidated with the First National Bank. He is now Expert of San 
Diego County, employed by the county to examine all the county offices.
        He was married in 1872 to Miss Lucy L. Wilcox, daughter of Leroy Wilcox, 
born in Ohio, April 24, 1858. Her father was one of the discoverers of the 
Nevada mines, and made a fortune at that time. They are from Kalamazoo, 
Michigan. They have one child living: Marion, born in San Diego, May 10, 1874. 
        Mr. Dannals served four years on the Board of Education in San Diego. 
Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he has 
been the treasurer and a trustee for several years. Mr. Dannals is a veteran Odd 
Fellow, having served through all its offices. He has been Noble Grand, 
Representative to the Grand Lodge and District Deputy, and in all the same 
positions in the Encampment. He also belongs to the Masonic order, and has 
served in all its offices, the last two years as Master of the lodge. He is a 
Knight of Pythias, and was its Commander and also District Deputy, and in the 
Masonic Chapter is High Priest, and is a member of the commandery of Knight 
Templars, and Junior Warden of the lodge of perfection. His wife and himself are 
the present worthy matron and patron of the Order of the Eastern Star, of which 
they were the organizers in San Diego. He is Past Post Commander of Heintzelman 
Post, No. 33, G. A. R., and has taken an interest in all that pertains to the 
growth and welfare of the city and county. He is also a veteran of the National 
Guards, having served some seven years in the State of New York and in 
California, as an officer since October 1, 1881; and is at present Major and 
Commissary on the First Brigade Staff.
 
SOURCE:  An Illustrated History of Southern California:  Embracing the Counties 
of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower 
California� Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890.  p.-  209-210