The parents of George W. Albaugh brought him to Westminster, the month of March, 1870, at the age of thirteen years--his natal day having been the 22nd day of February, 1857. He was born in the neighborhood of Sam's Creek, Carroll County, Maryland. Their motive for removing from the country with their son, was to give him better educational advantages. Previous to their removal, the son had attended the public schools of the neighborhood and acquired such rudiments of education as they then afforded. The parents lost no time in putting him into the public schools of the town upon their arrival; and in addition, entered him at the private school of James Rippard, a school of some considerable local repute. But, it will appear, when the whole period of his school attendance and tuition in Westminster is combined, it did not exceed much beyond two years. The truth is that this bright-faced energetic boy, though gifted with the qualifications for instructions and education of a high order, had irrevocably set his mind upon a business career and making money. This inherited tendency and determination had manifested themselves in a striking way, long before he came to town with his parents--indeed, when he was a mere child. He had already established at his own country home, a plant for himself and conducted it himself and made money for himself and became a money lender and capitalist by loaning it to his father. Furthermore, he had visited and engaged himself as clerk in his uncle's country store at McKinstry Mills, and gained such experience there, in trade, as it afforded--besides more money and more confidence in himself. And thus it will be seen how inevitably committed by natural gifts, he was bound to a business course of life. Nothing else could have taken its place, without distorting the natural bent. He was a born trader, merchant and banker, as is abundantly attested by the following outlines of his activities.

As early as June, 1872, then only midway in his teens, we find him in the leading dry goods house of the town, Yingling & Son, engaged and acting as one of the clerks. Here he remained for two or three years, sedulously acquiring and widening his knowledge of the mercantile trade, and laying foundations for its future extension under his own management and guidance. His next step was an association with John T. Orndorff, a prominent merchant, in the same line of business. Upon termination of this connection in March 1880, he launched out for himself and under his own name; and opened a general dry goods house at the old stand in the town, known as the "Reifsnider Stand." His next move was in 1884, to a location at the corner of Main and Court Streets, in the east end of the town. Here he remained only a comparatively short time, displaying heavy stocks of goods and the largest floor space then in Westminster. In the meantime, he was erecting the largest dry goods house and building in the town and county, which came to be known as "Albaugh's Department Store," situated on Main Street, near the Western Maryland Railroad station and in the center of the trade activities of the place. In this large building of his own, he opened and conducted, beginning in 1884, one of the largest general department stores in this part of the state; and was accredited the position as one of the leading merchants of the town and county. In 1887 it was destroyed by fire, but afterwards rebuilt by him. In the wing or division farthest from the railroad line it is still occupied by the Albaugh & Babylon Wholesale Grocery Company, an incorporated company, and conducted principally by two of its members, F. Thomas Babylon, an experienced and trained merchant, and Mr. Albaugh's only son, Carroll, also a trained merchant and an adept in the business. It is the center of a very wide distribution of goods over the county and farther. The subject of this sketch is the president of the company.

In and about 1890 and after, his interests became more diversified. He was no longer exclusively a merchant. He entered other and various fields, and ventured upon new and various means to increase his fortune, then already considerable and growing. He turned his attention to acquiring large real estate possessions in the town, and afterward extending it to farm lands and wooded properties of the county. He erected a large dwelling for himself on Main Street, and occupied it. A few years passed and it was enveloped in a large Indiana stone structure, combining and representing the Hotel Westminster, and the banking house of The Westminster Deposit and Trust Company. In 1898, mainly through his influence, energy and capital The Westminster Deposit and Trust Company was incorporated and organized. Its financial standing and success is so far assured and high at this date that no reference is needed. He established and organized various other banks in the various districts of the county, affording them capital and guidance from his larger experience.

In and along this period he became the controlling capitalist in the waterworks of the town; also the principal agent and instrument in equipping and introducing an electric lighting system. When it was perceived and recognized how financially destructive were the operations of the various competitive public agencies of the town, it was mainly through his proposal and foresight that they were combined into one unit or corporation, now known as the Consolidated Public Utilities Company of Westminster. But for his superior command of resources and willingness to use them at a risk, in the crisis of the World War, when similar chartered companies over the entire country were failing and falling into bankruptcy, this one of Westminster was safeguarded. He is now serving as director, on the board of the Westminster Deposit & Trust Company; the Consolidated Public Utilities Company; the Albaugh & Babylon Wholesale Grocery Company; the Union Bridge Banking & Trust Company; and various other boards.

Without further extension of this outline characterizing his business activities and acquisitions, already shown to be remarkable, we may conclude by saying, when reviewed in detail and as a whole, that is presents him as a human dynamo. His surprising business activities and energies, though displayed in a narrow and miniature field, yet recall the extraordinary and vital services, without pay, rendered to England in her deadly conflict with Germany by two of her great business men--Andrew Weir, now known as Lord Invenforth; and William Hasketh Lever, know known as Lord Leverhulme. Without their aid England's victory might have been in doubt, as thought by many.

In October, 1878, in Westminster, Mr. Albaugh was married to Miss Ella Troxell, daughter of Alfred and Rachel Troxell, a family of conspicuous piety and benevolences. To Mr. and Mrs. Albaugh three children were born, viz: Carroll Albaugh, a son before mentioned in connection with the Albaugh & Babylon Wholesale Grocery Company of Westminster, of which he is one of the two principal managers. He is married to Miss Hilda Feisler; Ella T., who married Lawrence Gillelan, and they had three daughters, Ruth, Elizabeth, and Margaret. These children how live with their grandparents Mr. & Mrs. Albaugh in the former old Colonel John K. Longwell's mansion, set out in an expansive lawn, since both parents are dead; and Marianna, who became the wife of Robert K. Billingslea, a son of the late distinguished Dr. James Howell Billingslea, one of the leading physicians and men of the town and county.

The father of George W. Albaugh was George P. Albaugh, who removed from Pennsylvania to Maryland and married Francina Evans, the mother of the subject of this sketch and Annie F. B. Goodwin, widow of Charles E. Goodwin of Westminster.

In this quiet gentle figure moving noiselessly amid the common scenes of men and life, without fear, or guile, resided the forces of unyielding religious faith. That faith was born to her, from her father, from her grandfather, and from her great-grandfather, John Evans, one of the first settlers in that famed section of Carroll County, known now over the Methodist world as "Sam's Creek" and "Pipe Creek," Carroll County, Maryland; and as the first home of Methodism in America. John Evans, prior to his removal to this neighborhood and community, lived near Baltimore, Maryland, and was then a member of the Episcopal Church. He soon came into contact and under the influence of Rev. Robert Strawbridge of the same neighborhood and settlement; and at the age of thirty years he became a convert to Methodism (the year 1764). This section of the State and of Carroll County drew a pilgrimage to it from the Methodist Church, on October 12, 1894, when its historic spots were visited, canvassed and discussed, and afterward published by the church to the world--as a tribute memorial to the names of Rev. Robert Strawbridge and Bishop Asbury. The primitive home of the Evans family and the mother of George W. Albaugh has been repaired by Mr. Albaugh and now stands guarded and protected by iron railings, is a depository of relics connected with the founding of the Methodist Church in that community, and is now under the auspices of that church.

Before leaving Sam's Creek, we will stop to call upon another of its lifetime citizens: A lifelong and distinguished merchant of the place, amassing a fortune, helpful to everybody in need; gracious to everybody, young and old; a devotee of the Methodist Church; a giver to it in life, and at death; an associate of George W. Albaugh in the fortunes of The Westminster Deposit & Trust Company, its first president, dying only recently, after establishing with others its high credit. David E. Stem left a high and honorable record--all that can be left by mortal man.

The father and mother of George W. Albaugh were witnesses to their son's career and success for many years. While feeling pride in his achievements, their deep religious training made them always doubtful of worldly possessions, as an end, in itself. Like many other rich men approaching the canonical line of life's limitations, Mr. Albaugh began to reflect. With reflection came a change which is illustrated in the following act and deed.