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- Niagara Gazette - 2/24/1928
In the death last night of George
Urban. Jr.. Buffalo, the Niagara
frontier loses one of Its most outstanding
figures. Nationally known
as tho man who first conceived the
Idea of booming Grover Cleveland, a
friend of his, for president of the
United States, he was known In Niagara
Falls particularly for the part
he played in the development of the
electrical power resources of the fails
of the Niagara.
Mr. Urban, In 1891, organized the
Niagara Electric ServIce Corporation,
this city, and became its president,
which office he held until the time
of his death. At the time of organization
the company was capitalized at
$100,000, and now the stock has a
book value of about $1,500,000. He
was also a director of the Lewlston
Power company until it was merged
with the Niagara Electrlo Service
Corporation In 1927. Mr. Urban
was also a member of the Niagara
Club.
In Buffalo, Mr. Urban was one of
the organizers and directors of the
Brush Electrlo Company, which Installed
The first municipal lighting
plant In Buffalo: president and founder
of the Thomas-Houston Electro
Company until, In 1887, after being
merged with the Brush Electric Company
and the U. S. Electro Light
Company, a new organization, known
as the Buffalo General Electric Company,
came Into being. Mr. Urban
was vice-president of this company.
He was one of the organizers and
president of the Cataract Power and
Conduit Company, which supplied
Niagara power to Buffalo until it
merged with the Buffalo General
Electro Company.
In addition to being a pioneer in
exploiting Niagara Falls power, Mr.
Urban was prominent in the banking
circles of Buffalo. He was vice president
and later president, of the
Buffalo Loan, Trust) and Safe Deposit
Company; director of the Buffalo Insurance
Company, the Marine Trust
Company, tho Ellicott Square Company,
and tho Buffalo Elevating
Company.
In addition to being a pioneer In
power development and active in
banking circles Mr. Urban was an industrialist
of great executive attainments.
When he was not yet twenty-
he was born July 12, 1850. in the
building at tho corner of Genesee and
Oak streets, Buffalo-he was admitted
as partner Into the flour milling
business of his father. The firm then
became known as Urban and Company.
Eleven years later George Jr.,
built the first rolling mill In the
United States. Four years later,
when George Urban, Jr., was 35, his
father retired from active participation
In the business, and George, Jr.,
became head of the firm, a younger
brother, William C. Urban, and Edwin
G. Miller being associated with
him. Under George, Jr.'s direction
the mill expanded enormously until
........... the firm, now known as tho
George Urban Milling Company, built
and occupied an immense new mill
at Urban and Kehr streets. This
mill, one of the finest In the world.
was the first In Buffalo to use Niagara
Falls power exclusively.
Always a Republican, Mr. Urban,
although he steadfastly refused public
office, served for many years as
treasurer and later chairman of the
Erie County Republican committee
In 1896 and 1900 he was Republican
presidential elector from Erie County,
and In 1904 was Republican presidential
elector -at-large from New
York State.
In 1876 he married Ada H. Winspear.
and constructed for her the
present family home in Pine Ridge
Road. Cheektowaga. Mrs. Urban
died some years ago. Mr.. Urban Is
survived by two daughters, Ada
Jeannette Urban and Mrs. Charles W.
Banta,-and one son, George Pennock
Urban, who succeeded him In the Urban
interests. Another daughter,
Emma M., died several years ago.
Arrangements for the funeral have
not yet been completed
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