George Urban Junior

George Urban Junior
The following text is a reprint of "A History of the City of Buffalo," pub. by The Buffalo Evening News, 1908

George Urban Junior, one of the leading factors in the business life of Buffalo and Western New York, was born in this city July 12, 1850, the son of George Urban, a native of Alsace, France, who settled in Buffalo in 1835 and a number of years later entered the wholesale flour business.

Business

The younger Urban received his education at the Buffalo public schools, and at the age of sixteen year entered the employ of his father. Four years later, in 1870, he was admitted as a partner in the business, which then became known as Urban & Company.

The original establishment, located at the corner of Genesee and Oak streets, was augmented in 1881 by the erection of the first roller flour mill in Buffalo, on a site opposite the store of the firm. Four years later the senior Urban retired from business life, and George Urban Junior became the head of the firm, having associated with him E.G.S. Miller and W.C. Urban, a brother of the senior member of the firm.

The business is known under the name The George Urban Milling Company, turning out several well-known brands of flour, which are used in every part of the country. The immense new mill of the company, at Urban and Kehr streets, adjacent to the tracks of the New York Central Belt Line, was completed in 1903. This mill which is one of the best equipped and handsomest of its kind in the world today, was the first mill in Buffalo in which the motive power was exclusively electricity, brought here from Niagara Falls.

Mr. Urban does not confine his attention entirely to the direction of his milling business, for he has found time to become prominently identified with various others of Buffalo's industrial and commercial institutions. He was

first vice-president of the Buffalo General Electric Company,
first vice-president of The Cataract Power and Conduit Company, and
president of The Buffalo and Niagara Falls Electric Light and Power Company.
president of The Buffalo Loan, Trust, and Safe Deposit Company,
director of the Market Bank
director of the Bank of Buffalo.
director of the Buffalo German Insurance Company,
director of the Buffalo Commercial Insurance Company, The
director of the Buffalo Elevating Company,
director of the Ellicott Square Company.
one of the organizers of The Thomson-Houston Electric Light Company, and served as its president until the business was absorbed by the Buffalo General Electric Company.
organizer and director of The Bellevue Land and Improvement Company

Politics

Although he could never be influenced to take office, Mr. Urban has ever been prominent in the counsels of the Republican party in Buffalo and Western New York. He was chairman of the Erie County Republican General Committee from 1892 to 1895. In 1896 and 1900 Mr. Urban was a Republican presidential elector from Erie County, and in 1904 he was honored by the selection as Republican presidential elector at large from New York State.

Mr. Urban is a member of the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce and the New York Produce Exchange.

Social Clubs

He is also a member of several of Buffalo's social organizations, including the Buffalo, Ellicott, Saturn, Country, and Park clubs of this city. His out-of-town affiliations include membership in the New York Club and the Republican Club of New York City, and the Whist Club of Rochester.

Family Life

In October, 1875, Mr. Urban married Ada E. Winspear, daughter of Pennock Winspear, of Cheektowaga. They have four children -- one son, George P. Urban; and three daughters, Emma M., Ada J., and Clara W. Urban. George P. Urban is secretary and treasurer of The George Urban Milling Company.

George Urban, Jr. died at his residence, Pine Ridge, Cheektowaga (ILLUSTRATION), after an illness of three weeks, aged 77 years, on Feb. 23, 1928. He was financier, capitalist, merchant and pioneer in hydroelectric development, and one of the most prominent men of the :Niagara frontier.

He was one of the supporters of Grover Cleveland for the honors of Governor and President, and also one of the promoters of the Pan-American Exposition.

His father, George Urban, Sr. was a native of Alsace, France, and migrated to Buffalo in 1835.

George Urban, Jr. was the builder of the first roller mill in the United States. He was one of the organizers and directors of the Brush Electric company which installed the first municipal lighting plant in Buffalo.

For 25 years he was the head of the George Urban Milling company, having one of the best equipped flour mills in the country. He was a director in several banks and other financial institutions. He was a Republican presidential elector in 1896, 1900 and 1904.

- Source: "Buffalo Historical Society Publications," Volume 30, 1930

Photo sources:

Urban Company photo: Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record
George Urban Jr. photo: "A History of the City of Buffalo," published by the The Buffalo Evening News, 1908

See also:

Illustration: Residence of George Urban Junior, Pine Hill, Cheektowaga, NY
The Pan Am's Who's Who Descriptions (and photos and links) of dozens of people who were part of an important world's fair in Buffalo's "glory days"
Leaders of the Pan-American Exposition Buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery - George Urban Jr
Characters in 'City of Light' Comprehensive list with many links to photos and information