Penrose, Honorable George B. B.

 Submitted by Mike Miller

Penrose, Hon. George Bright Biddle.--The Penrose family has long been conspicuous in the affairs of Louisiana and of the Louisiana territory as purchased from France in 1803. Even prior to that time it had been prominently identified with our colonial history at Philadelphia and elsewhere. The family history is traced in an unbroken line back to those resolute sons of England who exacted from King John the Magna Carta 1215 A. D. The founder of his immediate family of Penroses in America was Bartholomew Penrose, who came to Philadelphia in the latter part of the 17th century, and with his brother James became a leading ship builder in William Penn's colony, William Penn being a partner in the enterprise. His son, Thomas Penrose, was born in 1709 and by his wife, Sarah Coats, became the father of James Penrose, born Feb. 3, 1737, who married Sarah Biddle March 15, 1766, and became the father of Hon. Clement Biddle Penrose. The last named was born at his father's country seat near Frankford, Philadelphia, Feb. 20, 1771, and died in St. Louis in 1820. His boyhood was cradled amidst scenes of the Revolution, and in his early childhood he was selected as one of two youthful standard bearers to one of the first companies raised in Philadelphia to engage in that contest, which selection was made to evince that the enthusiasm and patriotism pervaded the young and the old, and extended to all ranks and conditions. Driven from Philadelphia when that city fell into the hands of the invading foe, he accompanied his widowed mother and an honored uncle (Col. Clement Biddle) an officer high in the confidence of the great chief (George Washington) who led our armies at Valley Forge, and though but a boy, witnessed and shared in the sufferings of that terrible winter, one of the most gloomy periods of the Revolution. He acquired a liberal education in the schools of America and Europe. He was appointed by Pres. Jefferson in 1805 one of the land commissioners of Louisiana Territory and moved to St. Louis, in Oct. of that year, then the headquarters of the Louisiana government. He became one of the prominent men of that city and in 1816 was named as one of the commissioners to organize the St. Louis bank, the first in that section of the country. He married in 1796 Anna Howard Bingham, the daughter of Maj. Charles Bingham by his wife Anne Howard, the daughter of Sheffield Howard, younger brother of the Duke of Norfolk. Their son, Clement Biddle Penrose, was born in Philadelphia, Sept. 30, 1802, and died of yellow fever 1839 at Pointe Celeste, the plantation of his father-in-law, near New Orleans, La. Married, June 3, 1830, Anne, the eldest daughter of Maj.-Gen. Joseph Biddle Wilkinson, by his wife Ann Biddle, born at Natchez, Miss., July 25, 1808. A son of this last couple, another Clement Biddle Penrose, was born April 5, 1831, at Pointe Celeste in Plaquemines parish. The last named was educated by tutors on the plantation of his father and graduated with honors at Tulane university. He practiced the profession of law very successfully at New Orleans and in Plaquemines parish. His wife was Camille Adele Marie Bright, born in New Orleans, Sept. 26, 1836. Their children were: Clement Biddle Penrose, George Bright Biddle Penrose and Camille Adele Marie Penrose, the first named born Oct. 6, 1856, died June 17, 1895, and the last named dying in infancy. George B. Penrose, whose name introduces this sketch, was born in New Orleans Oct. 10, 1857. He acquired his primary education in the public schools of this city and this was supplemented later by a course at Bellevue college, Virginia. On leaving his academic studies at the latter institution he took a course in business education at Soulé college in New Orleans. He entered at once into commercial life, accepting a position with a firm of English cotton buyers known as Anderson & Simpson. He occupied a post of great importance and trust with this firm and remained with them until the business was discontinued by the death of one of the partners. In the administration of Pres. Cleveland he was appointed superintendent of the money order department at New Orleans post-office and afterwards was with the United States light house service for a time. His first business venture on his own account was in the cotton compress with his brother, Clement, operating together the Fireproof and Union cotton presses, and with Vincent & Hayne, the Summit Mississippi Compress Co. He also formed a partnership with R. N. Gourdain Smith in the cotton brokerage firm of Smith & Penrose, which had a membership in both the New York and New Orleans cotton exchanges. The high esteem in which Mr. Penrose was held in his native city is indicated by the following positions of trust which he held here: Member of the Sewerage and Water board, Board of Liquidation city debts, director in the Louisiana National, Interstate Bank & Trust Co., and the United States Safety Deposit and Savings banks. He took a commendable interest in the social life of the city and was captain of the Mistick Krewe of Comus. He was a member of the famous White league and of the league guards and was lieutenant of the Crescent Rifles when that company won the competitive drill from the Chickasaw Guards of Memphis. Mr. Penrose had never taken active part in politics, but during a reform movement he was approached by Dr. Henry Dickson Bruns, a prominent member of the Citizens' league and asked if he would run for the position of city treasurer, vacated by the death of Gen. Euclid Borland. His surprise was great indeed, as the honor was unexpected and unsolicited. He accepted without a moment's hesitation and went into the hard fight with several others for the nomination, but full of energy and appreciation of the men who had called him to this position of honor and trust. He was elected by the city council Nov. 5, 1896, and served the unexpired term of his predecessor (3 years) during Mayor Flower's administration. At the expiration of that time in 1899, he was nominated city treasurer to succeed himself by the regular democratic party, and after a very spirited contest for the position between Mr. Penrose and Judge Skinner, who was his opponent, he was elected by a handsome majority, serving in that capacity with Mayor Capdeville at the time of his death. He had been treasurer for 7 years, and being a man of splendid business and executive ability, he filled the office to the satisfaction of the entire community. The Times-Democrat of June 7, 1903, in its article on the death of Mr. Penrose said: ''It will seem impossible to believe, to thousands of persons in New Orleans this morning, that the genial, whole-souled, popular gentleman, a man among men, George B. Penrose, is no more! Who ever came in contact with him felt the influence of his kindness and his engaging manners, born of an innate consideration for the feeling of others, his greeting even of a comparative stranger had the effect of making a fast friend. He was so well known, and liked by persons in all sorts and conditions of life that he justly came to have the reputation of being the most popular man in New Orleans. In fact the active and charming personal life of Mr. Penrose pervaded the business and social life of New Orleans. His vigorous influence was felt in all circles.'' The Daily Picayune of the same date said: ''The community will learn with keen regret of the death of Hon. George B. Penrose, for the past 7 years city treasurer of New Orleans. Of the many prominent men who held public office in recent years, none have been more generally liked than Mr. Penrose. As a public official in a position of the very first importance, he won general confidence and regard, and his death will be generally regretted by all classes in the community in which he lived. At the time of his death Mr. Penrose was comparatively a young man, which makes untimely death all the greater shock to all who knew him. He has lived in this city all his life and was thoroughly identified with the aims and ambitions of the community. Whether in private business life, or in public office, his career has been equally honorable. With him public office was a public trust and for this reason his death was a public misfortune." The Louisiana National bank, of which Mr. Penrose was a valued member of the board of directors, said: ''Mr. Penrose is cherished with veneration by this board, as that of a co-worker, prompted in life by those impulses which have contributed much to the improvement of the service in which his energy, integrity and ability were always felt, and this board will always hold in reverential remembrance his pure and exalted character as a man of affairs which at all times invited confidence and trust." A tribute from the members of the Mistick Krewe of Comus, of which he was their valued captain, read: "None knew him but to love him." When the melancholy tidings swept over the city that death had stricken down George B. Penrose in the full meridian of his splendid manhood there was nowhere a more responsive chord, nor will his memory be more tenderly enshrined than in the hearts of the Mistick Krewe of Comus, who loved him as their friend and honored him as their captain. And never was a friendship more generously requited nor honors more worthily borne. He was a man of unsulied principle, and a heart full of finest affections. In his intercourse with his fellowman, in the various relations of life, he knew but one rule of conduct, and its even application was never affected by any influence of condition or fortune. Without fear and without reproach, he brought to the performance of each duty, intellectual activity and force equal to every demand and earnestness of purpose which never faltered, a fidelity which never wavered and the limit of his strength was at all times the measure of his willingness. His civic excellence of which the world took note, and taking note admired, was but the reflex of the many kindly qualities of heart and mind, which won and retained the love of those whose good fortune brought them within the pale of his friendship. His family motto was "Ubique Fideles" which fitted so admirably the man who was "always faithful." Nov. 16, 1887, Mr. Penrose was united in inarriage to Laura Mary Elizabeth, the charming and accomplished daughter of Arthur Ambrose and Elizabeth Jane (Armstrong) Maginnis. Her father was a native of Baltimore, Md., and lived in New Orleans for 35 years. Her mother was born at New Castle-on-Tyne, England. Mr. Penrose left 2 children; Laura Adele Marie, married Mr. Harris Phelps Ralston, whose family came originally from Springfield, Mass., and later of New York, and George Biddle Brickell Penrose. Their family life was in every way ideal, and Mr. Penrose was an attentive and affectionate husband, and solicitous for the welfare of his children.

NOTE: Original source includes a photograph of Mr. Penrose

Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 349-352. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.