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Forge S. West
Forge S. West, Surrogate of Camden County and a resident of the city of
Camden, was born September 12, 1851, in Boston, Mass., son of Samuel and
Mary (Weldon) West. Samuel West, who also was a native of Boston, settled
in Camden in 1852. A soldier in the regular army, he served in the Mexican
War, fighting on the Rio Grande, under General Zachary Taylor, and
distinguishing himself for bravery. Though troubled by a wound received in
Mexico, he was eager to participate in the wear of the Rebellion, and
raised a company of volunteers in Ohio. After receiving the command of the
company, he never reached the battlefield, as his old wound; caused his
death in 1861, when he was forty-four years old.
George S. West was educated in the public schools of Camden. He
subsequently learned the machinist's trade; but, having no taste for labor
of that kind, he sought and obtained the position of salesman in a
wholesale clothing and notion house of Philadelphia. Afterward he opened a
large auction house in Camden, which he successfully conducted until 1887.
In the mean time he had taken an active part in politics as a Republican,
and his character and energy had made him popular with both parties.
Beginning in 1885, he was elected a member of the City Council for three
successive years, representing Ward Four. In 1887 he was elected County
Surrogate on the Republican ticket, receiving, it is stated, the largest
majority ever given a candidate for that office in this section. On that
occasion he gave up his auction business, and thereafter devoted his whole
attention to the duties of his office. Having completed his term of five
years with credit, he was re-elected for another term in 1892.
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In 1876 Mr. West was married to
Miss Mary J. Charles, of Camden, and now has one son, Hayden A., who
is studying medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a
member of the Camden Republican Club. Taking much interest in
military affairs, he is Commander of Company D, Sixth Regiment of
the National Guards, and chairman of the committee on the new
armory. It was largely through his instrumentality that the State
was induced to appropriate one hundred and forty-eight thousand
dollars for the erection of that handsome structure. He is a Knight
Templar Mason, has taken the thirty-second degree, and is a member
of the Lulu Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Philadelphia. He also
belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Improved Order
of Red Men, the Brotherhood of United American Mechanics, the
Knights of the Golden Eagle, and the Ancient Order of United
Workmen. He is popular with all classes of men, and is a leading
spirit in social events. Mrs. West is a Deaconess of the Baptist
church. Mr. West is not a church member. |
Source: Biographical review: containing life sketches of
leading citizens of Camden and Burlington Counties, New Jersey,
Biographical Review Publishing Co., Boston, 1897.
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