Judge Geo. A. Kellogg Crosses the Dark River
Judge George A. Kellogg died at his residence in Fairhaven at 3:45 o'clock this morning at the ripe age of 73 years, 9 months and 28 days. Judge Kellogg was one of the best known pioneers of Whatcom county and treasured a store of valuable information relative to the early history and pioneer days on Bellingham Bay. A short biography of the deceased pioneer, together with that of his brother, Dr. J. C. Kellogg, of Seattle, who preceded him in his journey through the "dark valley of the shadow of death" only last Sunday are given herewith:
Judge George Albert Kellogg was born in Yates county, New York, November 5th, 1828. At an early age his parents moved to Erie county, Ohio, where his youth and young manhood were spent. His education was received in the public school, after which he read law in the law office of Valandingham. He afterwards took the law course at the Cincinnati Law School from which he was graduated. He was admitted to the bar in Ohio, but shortly moved to Story county, Iowa, where he was one of the pioneers and engaged in the practice of his profession.
He was elected county judge of Story county and held that office until the court was abolished. In 1871 he came to Washington Territory and located at Whatcom, where he resided for three years. While here he was the only attorney in Whatcom county. He was elected and served one term as auditor in the old court house now standing on D street. After this he resided one year in California, then returned to Iowa, resided there until 1879 when he went to Dodge City, Kansas. In 1880 he went to Colorado where he resided until the spring of 1883, when he returned to Washington Territory and again settled at Whatcom, but shortly afterwards he located at Bellingham, now a portion of Fairhaven, where he built one of the first houses in that town and where he resided at the time of his death.
He was practicing law at Whatcom until the fire of 1885, when his office and library were burned, since which time he has not been engaged in the profession.
In early manhood he united with [res]idents of Fairhaven, he raised a bonus, and assisted in inducing Nelson Bennett to begin construction of the Fairhaven & Southern railway. When Fairhaven was incorporated he was elected first city attorney but not being actively engaged in the practice did not qualify.
Until the panic of '93 he was engaged in handling real estate in Fairhaven and vicinity. Health has been poor for years and recently has been failing rapidly. From 1897 until last fall he resided at Seattle.
In early manhood he visited with and served as elder in the Presbyterian church and has ever since been active as a worker in that denomination, helping to found the first church on Bellingham Bay. For years he was an elder in the Fairhaven church and in 1893 he was elected a delegate to the Presbyterian General assembly held at Washington, D. C.
For years he has been a member of the Masonic order, and at the time of his death was a member of Fairhaven Lodge, No. 73, F. A. & M.
Since the civil war he has been Republican in politics and until prevented by poor health, always took and active interest in political matters. Judge Kellogg leaves surviving him his widow, Mary E. Kellogg, and three children, Mrs. W. H. Welbon, Miss Harriette Kellogg, who resides in Fairhaven and John A. Kellogg, an attorney at law, who resides at Northport, Wash. All of them were with him when he died. Funeral services will be held at the Presbyterian church, Fairhaven, Thursday, at 10:30 a.m. Rev. McElmon will officiate, assisted by Rev. Laurie. Interment in Bay View cemetery conducted by the Masons.
