Sacramento Valley Biographies

GEORGE HENRY LARAWAY 

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, July 2009.

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


    
        The business interests of the village of Winslow (formerly known as 
Bridgeport) are represented  ably by the merchant whose name introduces this 
article. Since establishing his home here in 1898 he has been a factor in 
promoting municipal prosperity. In addition to his mercantile establishment he 
holds the office of postmaster, having been appointed April 15, 1901, as 
fourth-class postmaster, on the establishment of the office by petition. The 
building in which he has his stock of general merchandise and which also is the 
postoffice, furnishes headquarters for the long distance telephone line and is 
also the central office for two farmers' telephone lines and the Sunset system. 
        In the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., George Henry Laraway was born May 15, 
1865, being the second in the family of three sons and one daughter. His father, 
Cap. Ogden O. Laraway, was born in Kings county, N. Y., and at an early age 
shipped before the mast, sailing to almost every port in the world in the course 
of his voyages. An attack of yellow fever in the West Indies left him in a 
condition physically unfit for the arduous duties of a sea captain and 
accordingly in 1876 he left the sea and came to California, hoping to be 
benefited by the climate of the coast. Settling in Sacramento he engaged in the 
grocery business. During 1881 he came to Glenn county and opened a general 
mercantile store at what is now Winslow, where he remained until his death in 
1898, at seventy-two years of age. Strong in his allegiance to the Republican 
party, he nevertheless took little part in politics and at no time sought 
official honors. In religious views he was of the Baptist faith and main-tained 
an active interest in the work of that church. His wife, who bore  the maiden 
name of Eliza C. Plymer, was born in New York and still survives him. 
        The common schools of Michigan furnished George Henry Laraway the 
rudiments of his education, which travel and self-culture have broadened in 
later years. At an early age he took up the shoe business in Detroit, Mich., 
where he was employed as a salesman in a retail store. Later he was similarly 
engaged in Denver, Col., but in October, 1898, resigned his position and 
returned to California, in order to assist in the settlement of his father's 
estate. Immediately afterward he assumed the management of the general 
mercantile business at Winslow, which he still conducts. In addition he has 
become interested in the stock business and at this writing has ninety head of 
cattle, which are out on range. Various fire insurance companies have retained 
him as their representative, in which line his work shows the same accuracy and 
attention to details noticeable in other departments of commercial activity. 
While living in Detroit, Mich., he was united in marriage with Miss Ambrosine 
Hayes, who was born in Buffalo, N. Y., and by whom he has two children, Lester 
and Hazen. The family are identified with the Elk Creek Christian Church, to the 
maintenance of which he is a liberal contributor, as he also is to all worthy 
movements for the uplifting of the people and the promotion of the community's 
best interests. Politically he supports Democratic principles, while fraternally 
he holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being connected 
with Lodge No. 321 at Newville, Glenn county. 
  
"History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the Sacramento 
Valley, Cal.," J. M. Guinn, The Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago, 1906, Page 
968.