California Biographies
Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
 
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
With Biographical Sketches
History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry
Illustrated, Complete In One Volume
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914


GEORGE L. WILCOX.� A genius in his chosen life work, which is 
that of art, George L. Wilcox has throughout his entire career evidenced his 
splendid ability, his originality, delicate touch and clever finish to all his work 
placing him among the recognized artists of the day. He was born at Rock- 
ford, Winnebago county. Ill., March 4, 1867, the son of John Wilcox, who 
first saw the light of day in London, England, in 1825. The father grew to 
manhood in his native place and while studying the classics and theology 
with a view to entering the ministry he held a position in the London post- 
office. He had reached the age of twenty when opportunity offered to come 
to America, and making his way to Illinois, he was ordained a minister of 
the Congregational church. For fifty years he preached for that denomina- 
tion in northern Illinois, then retiring from the work because of extreme old 
age. Like the early clergy, he preached without remuneration, and for a 
livelihood followed farming, in which he was successful, becoming a large 
land owner in Winnebago county. Soon after coming to Illinois Mr. Wilcox 
was married in Rockford, that state, to Margaret Weber, who was also a 
native of England and was born in Devonshire. A woman of rare attain- 
ments and gentle manner, she was an exemplary mother; her death occurred 
in December, 1912. The father now makes his home at his beautiful country 
place at Trask Bridge, a few miles out of Rockford. 

Of the seven children of his parents George L. Wilcox was the youngest, 
and grew up on the farm of his father at Wempletown, where he learned the 
rudiments of farming and stockraising, attending the local schools for his 
educational training. His taste for art early asserted itself, and his interest 
in architecture led him to enter the office of Mr. Bradley, an architect in the 
city of Rockford, when he was but twelve years of age, and he studiously 
applied himself to the study of that art. When sixteen he commenced draw- 
ing plans and making building contracts on his own account in Rockford 
and vicinity. It was in the fall of 1885 that he came west to the Pacific 
coast, his first location being at Eugene, Ore., where he became a partner 
of J. A. Winters in the photography business, and continued in that relation 
for nine months, at that time acquiring the business for his own. On the 
advent of the kodak he began traveling as general agent for the Eastman 
Company, being one of their first demonstrators of dry plates and films, as 
well as all their other supplies, and his territory covered most of the United 
States. 

In 1894 Mr. Wilcox opened a studio in Berkeley which soon became one 
of the leading photographic places on the coast. His studio at Sutter and 
Jones streets, San Francisco, was opened in 1900. Close application, natural 
ability and a thorough knowledge of the business won him recognition and 
he was soon ranged among the finest photographers not only on the coast, 
but throughout the country; he won medals, first awards and diplomas from 
exhibits in Chicago and New York City, as well as Berlin, Germany, and 
three of his photos were hung in the Hall of Fine Arts at Paris. Among his 
work may be found photographs of most of the eminent men on the Bay of 
San Francisco. Always eager to progress along his chosen line he applied 
new methods, chemicals, etc., and experimented to get the most desirable 
results, until he became very successful, but ill health obliged him to retire 
early in 1906, and he sought the country to live in the open and regain his 
health. After traveling some time he finally chose Mendocino county as the 
best place for him to settle and in a year's time he was perfectly well again, 
enjoying life to its fullest extent. Locating in Ukiah, he purchased a small 
tract of land and laid out Oak Park, sub-division to Ukiah, where he built 
several houses, among them a studio artistically designed, and again entered 
the photographic business. The love of art has caused him to become par- 
ticularly interested in arts and crafts, both metal and wood, his talent finding 
its outlet in the many beautiful pieces which he has finished. 

Mr. Wilcox married in Eugene, Ore., Miss Edith Winters, a native of 
that city and a most estimable lady. Fraternally he was made a Mason, in 
Durant Lodge No. 268. at Berkeley, and is a member of Oakland Chapter 
No. 36, R. A. M., Oakland Commandery No. 11, K. T., and Islam Temple, 
A. A. O. N. M. S., of San Francisco. He is also past grand in the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows and with his wife is a member of Kingsley Chapter, 
O. E. S.