Biography of George W. Lackey, pages 309/310.  Memorial Record of 
Northeastern Indiana; The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1986.

	George W. Lackey, One of the leading and influential citizens of 
Garrett, Indiana, is at the head of a large general merchandise store, the 
finest in the place.  He belongs to that class of American citizens, 
progressive and enterprising, who promote the public welfare while 
advancing individual prosperity, and in this volume, Devoted to the best 
residents of northeastern Indiana, he well deserves representation.
	Mr. Lackey was born in Independence, Preston County, West Virginia, 
November 29, 1851, and is a son of Joseph W. and Amanda (Royce) Lackey.  
The paternal grandfather was a New York farmer of Scotch-Irish descent.  
His wife lived to the advanced age of ninety-six years, and they had ten 
children, but none came to the West except the father of our subject and 
Charles.
Joseph W. Lackey was born in Broome county, New York, in September, 1818, 
and for twenty-five years engaged in railroading, acting in the capacity 
of engineer for twenty years.  Previous to taking up that work he had 
engaged in merchandising for about six years in Tunnelton, West Virginia.  
In 1849 he married Amanda Royce, daughter of Moses and Sarah (Maple) Royce.  
Her father was born in Virginia, and removed to Putnam, Ohio, where he made 
his home until his death in 1879, at the age of seventy-five years.  His 
wife was a native of Greene county, Pennsylvania, and their children were: 
Benjamin, Amanda, Clara, a twin sister of Amanda, Charles, William and 
Maria.
	The parents of our subject had four children: Sarah Ann, born 
February 22, 1850,who is the wife of H F. Sembower an engineer residing in 
Garrett. George W., is the second of the family. Mary E., born November 2, 
1855, is the wife of John Robbins, a resident of Auburn, Indiana, who is 
employed as a traveling salesman by a Chicago firm.  Calvin A., born in 
July, 1858, was married in Dalton, Georgia, and is now living in Fort 
Valley, Georgia, where he is conducting a grocery store. The father of 
this family was killed by the explosion of his engine on the Baltimore and 
Ohio Railroad at Franklin, Maryland, October 15, 1872.  His wife died in 
March, 1864, when about forty-five years of age.
During the greater part of his active business life, Mr. Lackey has 
followed merchandising. He began business for himself in March, 1874, at 
Newburg, West Virginia, forming a partnership with James R. Smoot, under 
the firm name of Smoot & Lackey, dealers in general merchandise. He had 
been engaged in clerking from his fourteenth year, and was quite familiar 
with business plans and methods, so that he had a good fund of experience 
to aid him when he started out for himself. Newburg was then a mining and 
railroad town of about 800 inhabitants. He continued there until 1878, 
when he sold out to his partner with the intention of embarking in the 
wholesale grocery business in Wheeling, but failing to make the deal he 
anticipated he bought out the store of D. J. Gibson, a general merchant of 
Newburg, and continued business there until March, 1880.
It was at that date that Mr. Lackey arrived in Garrett, Indiana.  Here he 
purchased the store of H. H. G. Upmeyer, a general merchant, who carried a 
stock valued at $11,000, which he has since increased to $15,000.  In 1880 
he built his present fine stone-front building, the best store in the place, 
and he now carries a large stock of goods, having increased his facilities 
to meet the growing demand until his business has assumed extensive 
proportions for a place of this size.
	Mr. Lackey was married in West Virginia, January 13, 1880, to Miss 
Mary Jackson Hurley, who was born in that State in March, 1860, and is a 
daughter of Cornelius and Eliza (Jackson) Hurley.  Their eldest child, 
Carl H., was born November 9, 1880, and died on the 4th of July, 1881.  
Madge Bennett, born April 23, 1882, and Floride Amanda, born November 9, 
1884, are at home.  The mother of this family died February 25, 1890, and 
on the 12th of September 1894, Mr. Lackey was united in marriage with Miss 
Mary A. Anderson, who was born in November, 1856, and is a daughter of 
George R. and Maria Anderson, of Newburg, West Virginia. 
Mr. Lackey takes a prominent part in Masonic affairs, belonging to William 
Hacker Chapter, R. A. M.; Apollo Commander, K. T., of Kendallville; Garrett 
City Lodge No. 537, F. & A. M.; and DeKalb Council of Auburn. He is also 
connected with Garrett City Lodge, No. 130, K. of P., and Cowan Tent, No., 
61, K. O. T. M., of Garrett. He is a man of broad capabilities, and
besides his store in Garrett, is interested in various other enterprises.  
In June, 1893, he bought a half interest in large dry-goods and millinery 
establishment of Auburn, Indiana, which is now conducted under the firm 
name of Bishop & Lackey, the stock being valued at $33,000. He was the 
organizer and is now secretary and treasurer of the Garrett Electric Light 
Company, which was established on the 24th of March. 1890. He was one of 
the original stockholder, and is still a director, of the Garrett Engine 
and Boiler Works.
	In politics he is a stalwart Republican, and in 1890 was a candidate 
for the position of County Clerk and succeeded in reducing the regular 
Democratic majority three-fourths, ---a fact, which indicates his personal 
popularity and the high regard in which he is held.  For eighteen years he 
has been a member of the Methodist Church, and is one of its liberal 
supporters and active workers.  Through the legitimate channels of 
business he has achieved a handsome success and is to-day a prominent 
factor in commercial circles.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com