From "History of Steuben County, Indiana" Chicago, 1885, page 782-3.

Capt. Sylvanus B. George
      the present Postmaster at Pleasant Lake, is one of the pioneers of Steuben
County. He was born in Livonia, Livingston Co., N. Y., April 14, 1815. He
removed in Feburary, 1818, with his parents, Elnathan and Lydia (Haven) George,
to Bellevue, Ohio, where his mother died. His father died in Tuscawaras County,
Ohio, where he was engaged as a contractor in the construction of the Cleveland
Canal, in October, 1830. Captain George was reared to the occupation 
of farming.
He has been a resident of Steuben County since 1840. In 1849 he went over land
to California, being about seven months on the route, traveling in a company of
about sixty men. He was engaged while there in mining and trade. He returned in
October, 1855, and has been a resident of the township since that time. Has
lived at Pleasant Lake since October, 1875. He enlisted in August, 1862, in
Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry. He raised Company H of that regiment and on
its organization was elected Captain. Commanded the company for fourteen
months, when ill health compelled him to resign. He participated in the battle
of Muldraugh Hill, in Kentucky, the Confederates at that battle being commanded
by General John Morgan; took part in the terrible battle of 
Chickamanga on Sept.
19 and 20, 1863. In 1864 he was elected Sheriff of Steuben County, and served
four years. Was appointed Postmaster at Pleasant Lake, in October, 1879, being
engaged in farming in the interval between serving as Sheriff and his
appointment as Postmaster. He married Maria Perfect, a daughter of James
Perfect, also one of Steuben's pioneers. James Perfect was born near Lexington,
KY., in 1795. He removed to Ohio with his parents about 1810, and there grew to
manhood and married Sally Gaylord, who was born in Luzerne County, Pa., in
1799, and removed to Ohio with her parents when she was fifteen years old. Mr.
Perfect came to Steuben County with his family in October, 1836, and settled in
Steuben Township, where he lived till his death in 1856. He was a 
soldier in the
army of 1812. The circumstances attending his death have never become known. He
was on his way to Iowa with John Carter, of this township, for the purpose of
locating land. He took passage on a steamboat at Dubuque for McGregor, Iowa,
from which place they intended to continue West; while still making this
passage, Mr. Perfect suddenly disappeared in the night, and has never been
heard from since. It is supposed that he fell overboard and drowned. His wife
died in April, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Perfect had eight children, four sons and
four daughters, all of whom grew to maturity. Of the family, only three sisters
are living. Hannah, wife of David Murray, of Pleasant Lake; Sophronia, wife of
J. M. Forward, of Omaha, Neb., and Mrs. George, who was born in Marion County,
Ohio, 1821. Mr. and Mrs. George have two children - Amanda E., wife of Mortimer
Knapp, of Kansas, and William H. Their eldest son, James A., was born in 1847;
he enlisted in 1863 in the same regiment with his father. After the return of
the latter, he marched with Sherman to the sea. He died in 1870, at home.
Captain George is one of the prominent and respected citizens of Pleasant Lake,
and a worthy representative of Steuben's pioneers.


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Transcribed by Ben Meyer Hines
bhines@alumni.ucsd.edu