WHARTON COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM OBITUARIES

GEORGE HEARD NORTHINGTON SR


G.H. Northington,

Wharton County Leader Dies

Planter and Merchant Did Much to Develop

Native Section

George H. Northington Sr. 83 lifelong Wharton County resident and descendant of one of Texas' oldest families, died at 8:45 a.m. Sunday in a Houston hospital.

Mr. Northington had been in ill health for some time, and had been under hospital treatment here for several weeks. He was born in the Northington plantation home, built by his father at Egypt in 1850, on June 30, 1854. The plantation has been his home ever since, except for a short period following his marriage in 1875.

Helped Build County

Mr. Northington attended school in Chappell Hill, and there married Miss Jessie Virginia Simmons. The couple celebrated their sixty-third wedding anniversary with a family reunion at the plantation home last Feb. 7. Mr Northington devoted much of his time to Wharton county's development in agriculture, cattle raising and other fields. He was one of the first cattlemen in the section to undertake large scale breeding of blooded Hereford and Brahma cattle. He also operated a large mercantile establishment at Egypt, and personally supervised the operation of his estate until a short time ago.

Funeral Set Today

He was a grandson of Captain J.E. Hurd, the San Jacinto veteran who l;aid out the town site of Wharton. He served as a county commissioner for several years, filling the office held before him by his father and grandfather.

The body was taken to Egypt Sunday, where funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Monday. Bishop Clinton S. Quin of Houston will assist. Burial will be in the family cemetery on the plantation.

Widow Survives

Surviving besides the widow, are three sons, Will, Mentor and George H. Northington Jr. of Egypt; a daughter Miss Sadie Northington of Egypt; and 14 grandchildren, including Mrs. Al Mortensen of Houston, Clements, Virginia, Lou, Will Jr., Harold and George H. Northington III of Egypt, George and Will Meriwether of Hungerford, Mrs Jack Schwab of Nashville, Mrs. Hurley Hust of Chicago, Reid Westmoreland of New York, Cameron Westmoreland of Seattle, Mrs. Horace Maxwell of Los Angeles, Miss Elizabeth Westmoreland of Eagle Lake, and six great-grandchildren.

AT EGYPT MON. AFTERNOON

Final rites held for G.H. Northington, Sr., who died in Houston Hospital Sunday morning; many present for services

One of the finest citizens Wharton County ever had was lost Sunday Morning at 8:45 o'clock when G.H. Northington Sr., passed away in a Houston hospital. Mr. Northington had been in failing health for some time and news of his passing was not unexpected by his many friends who had hoped against hope that he would rally from his illness and recover. The body was brought to the old Northington home at Egypt and funeral services were held at the home Monday afternoon and interment was made in the Egypt cemetery. Services were under the direction of the Wharton Undertaking Company and the religious rites were conducted by the Rt. Rev. Clinton S. Quin of Houston and the Rev. L.R. Goodrich of the St. Thomas Episcopal Church of Wharton. The funeral was one of the largest ever held in Wharton County and the floral offerings were beautiful and profuse.

Mr. Northington was born June 30th, 1854, at the old plantation home built by his father four years previously. With the exception of the time he attended school at Chappell Hill and a short time after his marriage to Miss Jessie Virginia Simmons, his entire life was spent in Wharton County. The sixty-third wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Northington was celebrated February 7th last.

There were many things about Mr. Northington which distinguished him as a true southern gentleman and set him apart as a personage. He lived honestly and honorably, took an active interest in the affairs of the county, state and nation, amassed a great plantation, reared a fine family and held the admiration of his friends and family. Surviving members of the family who have sincere sympathy of everyone in South Texas include the widow, three sons,Will, Mentor and George H. Northington Jr. of Egypt; a daughter Miss Sadie Northington of Egypt; and 14 grandchildren, including Mrs. Al Mortensen of Houston, Clements, Virginia, Lou, Will Jr., Harold and George H. Northington III of Egypt, George and Will Meriwether of Hungerford, Mrs Jack Schwab of Nashville, Mrs. Hurley Hust of Chicago, Reid Westmoreland of New York, Cameron Westmoreland of Seattle, Mrs. Horace Maxwell of Los Angeles, Miss Elizabeth Westmoreland of Eagle Lake, and six great-grandchildren.

GEORGE H. NORTHINGTON, SR.

WHARTON COUNTY PIONEER

BURIED at EGYPT MONDAY

The death of George Northington Sr. brought to a close a long and colorful life, the vigorous life of a strong man who by his leadership became the backbone of the community which he helped to develop. By his courage and independent thinking and action he was able to overcome the difficulties which assail the pioneer and those of the reconstruction era in which he lived. George Northington Sr, passed away in a Houston hospital Sunday morning at 8:45 after a very serious illness. He was eighty-three years old.

Funeral services were conducted Monday Afternoon at 3:30 from the family residence in Egypt by Rev. Robert Adams, presiding elder of Navasota, assisted by Bishop Clinton S. Quin of Houston, Rev. C.M. Myers of Glen Flora and Rev. L.R. Goodrich of Wharton. Funeral arrangements were in charge of Wharton Undertaking Company. Two vocal numbers were rendered by the blended voices of Mrs. Marcial Sorrell, II Mrs. Edwin Hawes, Jr. and Mrs. Leland Brooks. Interment was made in the old family burial plot in Egypt. So great was the profusion of beautiful floral offerings that every grave in the cemetery was heaped with flowers. Pallbearers were Bowie Duncan and C.R. Foulk of Egypt, Smoot Dayvault and Jeff Mathews of Glen Flora and B.C. Roberts and Frank Sorrell of Wharton.

George Hurd Northington was born June 30, 1854, the son of Mentor Northington and Betty Hurd Northington. His grandfather was Captain J.E. Hurd, that sturify veteran of the San Jacinto battle. Mr. Northington attended school in Chappell Hill where he met and married Miss Jessie Virginia Simmons in 1875. Of several children born to them four now survive. They are one daughter, Miss Sadie Northington of Egypt, three sons, Will, Mentor and George H. Northington, Jr. all of Egypt. Fourteen grandchildren also survive him as follows: Mrs. Al Mortensen of Houston, Clements, Virginia Lou, Will Jr., Harold and George H. Northington III of Egypt, George and Will Meriwether of Hungerford, Mrs. Jack Schwab of Nashville, Mrs. Hurley Hust of Chicago, Reid Westmoreland of New York, Cameron Westmoreland of Seattle, Mrs. Horace Maxwell of Los Angeles, Miss Elizabeth Westmoreland of Eagle Lake, and six great-grandchildren.

Shortly after their marriage, Mr and Mrs. George Northington Sr. returned to the little red brick home in Egypt which was built by old Captain Hurd and which was the center of the great Northington plantation. Mr. Northington began the agricultural development of his property and added live stock, taking especial pride in the breeding up of his Hereford stock which in later years became prize winning, registered animals. Recently in cooperation with his son, Mentor Northington, he purchased from King's ranch a number of bulls of the famous San Gertrudis strain and began crossing them with his fine Hereford strain.

When his brother W.A. Northington, died. Mr. and Mrs. George Northington moved into the big white home of his brothers widow. In later years he dredged out a lake on the river bottom and built a club house to which it was his pleasure to invite many friends. He worked negro labor always on his plantation and stern though he was the darkies loved and respected him. In years of flood and disaster he whipped up their courage with his own indomitable spirit as immortalized in Mrs. Goodlett's poem which characterized him, "Colorado Flood".

Mr. Northington loved his state and he had great pride in the part his ancestors had played in its defense. He loved his own county and the land which sustained him. He served his county as commissioner as his father before him had done. He loved his children and grandchildren with a fierce, protective love. His friends never doubted his loyalty though at times he took them sternly to task. It is with utmost satisfaction that his family and freinds recall that happy day on February 7th last when he and Mrs. Northington celebrated in a great family reunion at the home in Egypt their sixty-three years of successful married life. Thus death crowned with the homage of his friends a long and successful life, lived almost patriarchal style as the head of a family and contributing eagerly, intelligently and courageously to the development of the land upon which he lived.

This obituary from a copy of the one appearing in various Wharton County Newspapers. Copy donated by Geroge H. "Bud" Northington IV, to Wharton County Historical Museum. Transcribed by Janet Barrett Hobizal.

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