George Washington Kretzinger

This biography was submitted by Lisa R. Cretsinger.

The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography . New York : J.T. White, 1898-1984

pg 93-94:

KRETZINGER, George Washington, lawyer, was born in Ohio , Aug. 11, 1844 , second son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Ogilvie) Kretzinger. His father, a distinguished minister of the United Brethren church, was a friend of Lovejoy, the abolitionist, and preached the first abolition sermon in the state of Illinois . He received his early education in the common schools. The usual poverty of a minister's family in those days obliged him to support himself by manual labor during his college course. In his first college year the civil war broke out, and, though under age, he went to the front as a member of the 7 th Missouri cavalry regiment, better known as the famous Black Hawk cavalry. After being captured and paroled he went back to college, staying there until he was exchanged, when he returned to the service and remained until nearly the close of the war. He returned again to college, and, still under age, was graduated with high honors. During the two succeeding years he taught in the Keokuk Classical School, Iowa, and at the same time studied law under Hon. George W. McCrary, who was secretary of war under Pres. Hayed, and afterward judge of the United States circuit court in Iowa . After a few years of successful practice at Knoxville , Ill. , he removed to Chicago in 1874. In 1876 he was appointed general counsel of the Chicago and Padueah, the Chicago , Pekin and Southwestern and the Chicago and Iowa Railroad companied, the three roads then being under one management. Soon afterward he was counsel in two of the most important railroad cases which had then arisen in the United States : the Chicago and Iowa railroad vs. the Chicago , Burlington and Quincy railroad, and the Chicago , Pekin and Southwestern railroad vs. the Chicago and Alton railroad. Both cases involved novel and serious questions, and after two years of almost continuous proceedings in court Mr. Kretzinger won each suit. At this time he was the youngest general counsel of the railroad company in the United States . In 1880 he was counsel for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific and the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railroads in the litigation with the Chicago and Western Indiana Railroad Co. In 1886 he became the confidential advisor of Joseph Reynolds (well known in the West as �Diamond Jo� Reynolds), thus becoming the general counsel of the Diamond Jo line of steamers, plying the Mississippi river from St. Paul to St. Louis. In 1891 he became general counsel of the Louisville , New Albany and Chicago Railway co., known as the Monon route. Since its incorporation, Mr. Kretzinger has been general counsel for and a director in the Santa Fe , Precott and Phoenix Railway CO. He was married in 1876 to Clara, daughter of John H. Wilson, of Rock Island , Ill.

Pg 692:

KRETZINGER, George Washington, lawyer: b. in Ohio , 1846: s. Isaac and Elizabeth K.; collegiate edu.; m. Clara Wilson, Aug. 28, 1878 . Enlisted in Union Army, 1861, serving through the entire war; admitted to bar; practiced at Knoxville, Ill., until 1873, Chicago, 1873-; sr. mem. Kretzinger, Rooney & Kretzinger. Gen. Solicitor Chicago & Ia. Ry., 1887: gen. Counsel Louisville, New Albany & Chicago R.R. Co.; gen counsel Monon Ry., 1891-1910; now atty. Grand Trunk Ry. System, Inc., 1891, and dir Santa Fe , Prescott � Phoenix Ry. Co. of Ariz. Republican. Home: Chicago , Ill. Died Nov. 17, 1913 .