George Middleton, practical sign ornamental and fresco painter, at No. 37 North Division street, Grand Rapids, Mich., was born in Manchester, England, October 5, 1840, a son of John and Nancy (Harrison) Middleton, natives of Derbyshire.

John Middleton, who was born in Matlock in the county of Derby, was a calico printer by trade, and Manchester being the chief seat of the calico industry in England, he naturally gravitated to that manufacturing emporium and there passed the remainder of his life, dying at the age of seventy-four years, and there also his wife passed away. Of the sixteen children born to this venerable and respected couple, there are six only now living—Thomas, Margaret, Harriet, Rufus, John H. and George (the subject of this notice).—and of these Margaret, Rufus and George are the only ones in the United States, John H. having attained prominence as a musician at home and being content to remain there, as is his sister, Harriet.

George Middleton, at the age of eighteen years, came to the United States, landed in New York, and thence made his way to Leavenworth, Kan., but very shortly returned to the Empire city, where he arrived the night previous to Lincoln’s first election to the presidency. The Civil War, treading close on the footsteps of this glorious event, inspired

Mr. Middleton with patriotic love for his adopted flag, and he enlisted in the Ninth New York infantry, and was assigned to the regimental band, he being, like most of his family, well trained in music. He accompanied his regiment in its campaigns through North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland, and while at Pleasant Valley, Md., the order came from the war department to disband all regimental band organizations, yet Mr. Middleton, being an excellent cornet player, was retained by his colonel after

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the band had been discharged, but shortly afterward he was taken sick and was released from further service in that corps. Convalescing, he next enlisted with the military band at the West Point Military academy, N. Y., in which he served three years, thus covering the entire period of the Civil War, and something over. The principal actions in which he was a participant during his first enlistment were at Hatteras Inlet, Winton and South Mills, N. C.; then across the Dismal Swamp to Fortress Monroe; then to Fredericksburg, where Gen. Lee was confronted on his invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and was also at the engagements at Sharpsburg and Antietam, Md.; his service during his second enlistment were confined to West Point only.

After his discharge from the service Mr. Middleton located in Newburg, Orange county, N. Y. (a few miles up the Hudson river from West Point), and there remained until 1880, when he came to Grand Rapids, Mich. He had learned his trade in England, Leavenworth, Kan., and Newburg, N. Y., and on settling in Grand Rapids embarked in business on his own account, and has conducted it ever since. For twelve years of this period he conducted a store on Monroe street for the sale of wall-paper, paints and painters’ supplies, but suffered some financial loss and retired for awhile, but resumed his present business on a smaller scale, and is now prospering.

Mr. Middleton was united in marriage at Newburg, N. Y., October 14, 1863, with Miss Anna Jeannette Porter, a native of that hilly but beautiful city on the Hudson; seven children were born to this union, viz: William, a business man of Grand Rapids; Georgiana N., now Mrs. John Platte; Harry, a painter and paper-hanger; Emma Ionia; Nettie, wife of Norman Doughty, an expert accountant; Josephine, and a child that died in infancy. Mrs. Anna J. Middleton died August 20, 1896, and November 10, 1898, Mr. Middleton married Mrs. Sarah Brundage, daughter of Alba and Elizabeth Sweetland.

Mr. Middleton is a Royal Arch Mason, and also belongs to several insurance fraternities. In politics he is independent, and exercises his franchise for the candidate best suited, in his opinion, for office. He has always been a temperate and industrious citizen, and as such enjoys the well-deserved esteem of all who know him, and they who know him best esteem him most. He resides in his own pleasant dwelling at No. 128 Clinton street.