1918 History of Clark County, WI



George A. Ure

GEORGE A. URE, is one of the leading citizens of Clark County few men indeed in this entire region are better or more favorably known, and few have done so much for its -financial, industrial and agricultural development.

In public life he has been clerk and chairman of his township, efficient chairman of the county board, and capable clerk of the district court, in which latter position he is still serving. In insurance circles he has been honored with the position of state treasurer of the Wisconsin Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, and has won wide recognition for his work as secretary of the Lynn Mutual Fire Ins. Co. and the Lynn Mutual Tornado, Cyclone and Hurricane Ins. Co. In banking circles he is an official in several of the leading financial institutions in the county. In business, he is connected with various canning, elevator, trading and creamery, associations. Fraternally he has occupied a high position in a number of leading lodges.

He was born in Lynn Township, this county, Nov. 27, 1865, son of George and Ellen (Ray) Ure, the pioneers. He acquired his elementary education in the log schoolhouse of his district, and afterward attended the Neillsville High School, still later taking a commercial course in the Northwestern Business College at Madison, having in the meantime worked to help pay his own way, part of the time on farms, and part of the time in a Neillsville store. His experience as a young man subsequent to receiving his education embraced farm work and logging. In 1894 he became a fireman on the Burlington Railroad, and four years later, in 1898, he joined a party of eight and went to the Copper River region in Alaska in search of gold. Upon his return in 1900, he settled on eighty acres, in Section 7, Lynn Township, a part of the old homestead. This place he still owns. In 1901-02 he erected a new home, and from time to time he has made other improvements until he now has as good a place as is to be found in the county. For a while, in connection with his farming, he engaged in the building-moving business. Ripe with the experience which his various ventures had given him, Mr. Ure, as soon as he settled down to farm life, entered the arena of public affairs, and his popularity has since constantly grown. In 1901 he became clerk of the township of Lynn.

In 1902 he became chairman of the township and thus took his place on the county board, and in 1907 he became the chairman of that body, serving until his resignation, Jan. 1, 1911. On that date he took office as clerk of court. His suitability for that office is shown by the election returns. He has led the ticket at each re-election, he was once elected without an opponent, and several times the opposition has been merely nominal. Mr. Ure's name throughout the state is inseparably connected with the insurance business. Upon the organization of the Lynn Mutual Tornado, Cyclone Hurricane Insurance Co., June 1, 18959 he was one of the directors, and has served continuously as its secretary, his work in that capacity being a feature in the success of the company. His work in this company attracted attention, and in 1903 he became a director in the Lynn Mutual Fire Insurance Co., organized in 1878. In 1904 and 1905 he served as president, and in 1906 was elected secretary, his services having been such that he has since been continuously re-elected. As a representative of these organizations, he has made many friends among the officers of similar organizations throughout the state and in 1912 he was elected to his present position as treasurer of the Wisconsin Association of Mutual Insurance Companies.

When the successful Neillsville Canning Co. was organized in 1913, he became a director, and has been its only treasurer.
At various times he has been an official of several elevator companies and creameries, several of which he has assisted in organizing. As a patriot since the entry of the United States into the war, Mr. Ure has done some excellent work, some of the heaviest labor having fallen upon his shoulders. He is chairman of the Clark County Chapter, American Red Cross, a member of the executive committee of the Clark County Council of Defense, and is working on the food conservation problem in association with County Food Administrator Emil Ketel. All this has involved much correspondence And expenditure of energy, tact, and influence.

For some time, Mr. Ure has been Prominently connected with the financial interests of the county. He is vice president of the First National Bank of Neillsville and of the Chili State Bank, he is a director in the Farmers State Bank of Granton, the Farmers Merchants Bank of Greenwood and the Farmers Exchange Bank of Thorp, and has stock in the Citizens State Bank of Loyal. Fraternally, Mr. Ure is a leading Odd Fellow, having gone through the chairs of the local lodge, and joined the Encampment at Merillan. He is also a member of the Beavers, the Moose and other orders. Busy as he is with his many duties, he has found time to develop the social side of his nature and he is a loyal friend, a congenial companion and a royal entertainer, making his office the headquarters of any citizen of the county who happens to be in town, and placing its resources at the disposal of any who
are seeking for any information which his files contain.

Mr. Ure was married, in 1887, to Mamie Brothers, who left one child, Vera, who is a teacher in the Training School, at Menominee, having been reared by her grandparents, Rev. and Mrs. Joseph D. Brothers, the former a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal faith. Sept. 14, 1890, Mr. Ure married Madge Darling, a native of Clark County, daughter of Solon and Lydia Darling Of this union there have been born three children: Vivian, James and Melvin. Vivian was born Oct. 3, 1891. James was born May 21, 1893, and died Oct. 14, 1915. Melvin was born July 7, 1903.