DEATH TAKES GEORGE TESTER

George Washington Tester, son of George Sr. and Sophia Tester, was born near Liberty Center on June 25, 1865.

The family consisted of seven children, two girls and five boys. The parents, one brother and one sister have preceded him in death.

His boyhood days were spent in the community in which he was born and his public school training was received In the rural schools. As a young man he took up the carpenter trade, working for contractors in Wauseon until coming to Liberty Center in 1895, where he was employed by Henricks and Blanchard, contractors and dealers in building supplies. The firm soon ceased to function and he purchased the J. W. Rogers meat market, operating it for about one year, when he sold it to J. J. Fredrick, returning again to the carpenter trade, contracting several jobs and assisting in building a number of the business buildings now standing.

In the meantime he was largely instrumental in the organizing of a fire department, securing equipment and purchasing the present fire bell, giving much time and effort to public needs.

Just prior to, or about the time of, his coming to Liberty Center (1892) he was united in marriage to Miss Lillie Seymore of Fulton county, who also preceded him in death. To this union was born one daughter, Alta, who survives him.

On Nov. 16, 1898, he was employed by James Anderson, for whom he worked 18 1/2 years and for the Anderson Co. one year. On July 7, 1915, he was united in marriage to Miss Aria Cheeseman, of Toledo, who also survives him.

In 1918 he began business for himself on the site where his present business is now located. As an undertaker the records show that he buried 2500 people and was also connected with the furniture business during the entire time.

He sold his undertaking business in 1936 to Mr. Fiser but retained the furniture business to his death.

He was treasurer of the fire department for twenty-seven years, a councilman for two years, a cemetery trustee for nineteen years, a fine public spirited gentleman, a good husband and father. His health had been much impaired for several years. He put up a vigorous fight to regain his health, but for the past two weeks gradually became weaker until in the afternoon of Nov. 17 he gave up the struggle, having attained the age of 74 years, 4 months and 22 days.

There remain to cherish his memory his devoted wife, the daughter, Mrs. Alta Lyle, of Toledo; one sister, Mrs. Emma Jane Ansbaugh, of near Decatur, Ind., three brothers, Jacob, Los Angeles, Cal.; Peter, Doniphan, Neb., and John, of Liberty Center.