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biography
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Holiday, George L., President of the Common Council of Pittsburg and a representative
of the American Book Company of this city, is a Canadian by birth, having been born May 19, 1845, in Perth, Ontario County. He comes of thrifty Scotch ancestors. His paternal
grandfather, John Holiday, was sent by the English government to Canada as a teacher for the pioneer schools in the district at that time being opened up by the mother country,
and there he reared his children. Francis Holiday, the father of George L., was born in Great Britain, probably in Glasgow, Scotland. Going to Canada with his parents when a
young lad, he received his education from his father in Perth. There subsequently he also learned the trade of harness maker, which he afterward worked at for some years. In 1857
he removed with his family to Logan County, Ohio, and, buying a tract of land, was thereafter engaged in general farming until his death in May, 1896. He married Mrs. Margaret
McEwan Hamilton, a daughter of John McEwan, of Carleton, Ont., and they became the parents of nine children.
George L. Holiday had acquired the rudiments of his education in his native town, when, at the age of twelve years, he accompanied his parents to their new home in Ohio. He had
to assist his father in clearing the land, which was then wild, and in the other labors incident to pioneer life, his further schooling being confined to a few months in the winter
season. After he was eighteen years old he attended the academy at North-wood, two miles distant, for several winters, and he completed his education at the Normal School in Lebanon,
Ohio, being graduated from the classical department in 1866. Mr. Holiday then accepted a situation with Harper Brothers, being stationed in Ohio until 1869, when he came to Pittsburg
as a representative of their house, continuing with them until 1880. Then severing his connection with that firm, he was employed by Ivison, Blakeman & Co. until the organization
of the American Book Company, since which time he has been the company's active representative in this city. First elected to the Republican ticket to the City Council in 1873, he has
since retained his seat in that body, being its President for the past ten years, and with one exception its present oldest member.
In the capacity of a member of the Building Committee he took an active part in the erection of the Carnegie Library, of which he has been a Trustee since its incorporation. He is also
the superintendent and a director of the Duquesne Inclined Plane Company, of which he was one of the original promoters.
On September 7, 1870, Mr. Holiday married Miss Mary T. Pringle, daughter of Dr. George W. Pringle, of New Concord, Ohio. They have become the parents of seven children; namely,
George A., Harry C, Grace W., Mary E., Edna M., Samuel P., and Francis N. Mr. Holiday was made a Mason at Dallas Lodge, No. 508, of Pittsburg. Both he and Mrs. Holiday are members
of the Second Presbyterian Church of this city.
Biographical review: containing life sketches of leading citizens of Pittsburg and the vicinity, Pennsylvania. Boston: Biographical Review Pub. Co., 1897, Author: Anonymous, Submitted by C. Anthony.
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