George M. Zell Biographical Sketch from Beers History of Warren County, Ohio
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George M. Zell

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Transcription contributed by Arne H Trelvik 6 May 2003

Sources:
The History of Warren County Ohio
Part V. Biographical Sketches
Wayne Township
(Chicago, IL: W. H. Beers Co, 1882; reprint, Mt. Vernon, IN: Windmill Publications, 1992)

Page
889

GEORGE M. ZELL, undertaker and furniture-dealer, Waynesville, born in Harrison Co., W. Va., Oct. 8, 1814, is a son of John and Mary (Tyson) Zell, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of West Virginia; the grandfather, Jacob Zell, was a native of Pennsylvania, his father being born in Germany; Jacob Zell lived and died in his native State. The maternal grandfather, Enos Tyson, was born in Baltimore, Md., and eminent in the Quaker Church, as were also his ancestors, and noted for their philanthropy and the great aid and influence they gave to the anti-slavery cause in this country. About 1787, Mr. Tyson moved into Virginia and entered a large amount of lands under Gov. Lee, of that State, and there resided till his death, which occurred about 1820; their children grew to maturity, and most of them located in Ohio, and their mother, then a widow about 75 years of age, felt a great desire to go to her children, and though in the middle of the winter of 1829, she, aged as she was, started on horseback to make the entire journey, which she accomplished nicely - a remarkable feat for a woman of her age; thence she resided with her children till her death, dying in Warren County in 1839, aged 86 years. John Zell when but a boy, his mother having died, left his native State with the family who had raised him and settled in Virginia about the year 1800; there he grew to manhood and married, and became the father of twelve children – nine sons and three daughters – of whom eight now survive – George M., Ruth H. Olive, Oliver, Edgar, Jacob, James Harvey and Benjamin Franklin; the first six mentioned were born in Virginia, and the last two in Ohio. Mr. Zell was a farmer by occupation; in the fall of 1828, he emigrated to Ohio and located in Clinton County; thence, in spring of 1836, located near Waynesville, where they resided till their death; she died in the summer of 1845, aged 50 years; he died in 1851, aged 60 years. Our subject, the eldest of his fathers’ family, remained with his parents till of age, and rendered them great assistance when often they needed it in support of their large family. Mr. Zell has been twice married – first, in 1836, to Miss Eunice Kelley, a descendant of the old Quaker family from South Carolina who settled here in an early day; issue three children – Harriet A., Cicero and Calvin. His wife died in the summer of 1845. In the spring of 1849, he was married to Mrs. Grace Hendley, daughter of Paul and Naomi Huston, natives of New Jersey; issue by this marriage, three children – Walter, Lola and Della; Mrs. Hendley had one child, William, by her first husband. Mr. Zell has spent his business life mostly in Waynesville; has done much for the public interests of this town and its surroundings; has been a great friend of schools and education; he took an active part in getting the system of graded schools established in Waynesville, and has been a member of the School Board twenty years; has held many offices of the village and township, as Constable, Assessor, etc. Mr. Zell is now in partnership with his son, Walter, and George W. Hawke, in the manufacture and sale of furniture and the undertaking business, which they have successfully carried on for six years.


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This page created 6 May 2003 and last updated 11 October, 2005
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