George Curtis Langdon (April 5, 1833 – June 5, 1909) was the 38th mayor of Detroit, Michigan.
Early years
George Curtis Langdon was born in Geneva, New York April 5, 1833, the son of A. M. Langdon.[1][2] He went to school in Batavia, New York and Farmington, Connecticut, and at the age of 18 became a clerk for the wholesale firm of Lord, Warren, Slater & Co.[1] The next year he returned to Geneva, and his father sent him to Flint, Michigan to become a farmer. After three years on the farm, Langdon moved to Detroit and entered Gregory Commercial College to study bookkeeping.[1] He graduated with a Master in Science of Bookkeeping and Accounts degree,[2] and began work as a bookkeeper, first for a copper smelting firm and then at a bank.[1] From there, he went into the commission business.
Later years
In 1864, Langdon and a partner purchased a brewery and began doing business under the name "Langdon and Co."[1] In 1870 he became sole proprietor, and a few years later sold the brewery to become a maltster;[1] his business enterprisese afforded him a comfortable fortune.[3]
Langdon, elected as a Democrat served one term as the mayor of Detroit, from 1878 - 1879.[1] After serving as mayor, Langdon suffered a number of setbacks which decimated his personal wealth and forced him to hire on as a clerk at the City Hall.[3]
Langdon married Fannie Vallie in 1859;[2] the couple had two daughters.[1] Langdon's wife died in 1887. Their daughter , Fanny, had died November 14, 1883.[2] Langdon died in June 5, 1909, in Geneva, New York.[4]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Silas Farmer (1889), THE HISTORY OF DETROIT AND MICHIGAN, p. 1048
- ^ a b c d Carlisle, Fred, ed. (1890), Chronography of Notable Events in the History of the Northwest Territory and Wayne County, Detroit: O.S. Gulley, Bornman, pp. 416–417
- ^ a b The government of the city of Detroit and Wayne County, Michigan: 1701 to 1907, historical and biographical, 1907, p. 35, ISBN 9780598455529
- ^ "APPOINTED, BUT MAY LOSE POST". The Detroit Free Press. June 7, 1909.
