George A. Wiltsee
George A. Wiltsee, a well known and successful undertaker of Cincinnati, has been connected with that line of activity since becoming an associate of his father in early manhood. The business has been conducted at its present location for more than a half century. George A. Wiltsee was born in Cincinnati in 1851, his parents being John F. and Susan Emily (Lyon) Wiltsee. The name was originally spelled with one “e” (Wiltse), but John F. Wiltsee and his five brothers added another “e,” because people so uniformly mispronounced the name by omitting the final syllable. The maternal great-grandfather of our subject was a pensioner of the Revolution, and the two sons of George A. Wiltsee belong to the Sons of the Revolution. Moses Lyon, the maternal grandfather, was born on Walnut street, below Fourth, in 1798. The history of the Lyon family has been published in New Jersey, from which state the family originally came, being among the earliest Cincinnati pioneers.
The paternal grandfather of Mr. Wiltsee of this review was born in New Jersey and came to Cincinnati in 1827 or 1828, making his way over the mountains and down the river. He operated a farm at what was later called Cheviot and subsequently became a teamster, for in those days all freight was transported either by team or by river. John F. Wiltsee, his son, learned the trade of cabinet making, which in those days often included undertaking. He became an employe of Paul Rust, who in 1847 had opened an undertaking establishment at the corner of Longworth and Plum streets. When Mr. Rust passed away Mr. Wiltsee purchased the business from his widow and conducted it successfully until called to his final rest in 1899, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. At that time he had interred twelve thousand people in Spring Grove cemetery. He served as treasurer of the Ohio Mechanics Institute for many years and in 1857 was granted a medal by that organization for his display of burial caskets. He was a Knights Templar Mason and also took an active interest in local politics, serving as a member of the city council in 1866-67. Mr. Wiltsee acted as chairman of the committee that placed the Gamewell system of fire-alarm telegraph in Cincinnati as was likewise chairman of the railroad committee which granted the Ohio & Mississippi R. R. the right of way through Front street to the Pennsylvania depot in 1867. He was first a member of “Brimstone” church, later joined Morris chapel and subsequently became identified with St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal church, of which he had been an officer for many years at the time of his death. Prior to the outbreak of the Civil war and during that conflict he rented his stable from Jesse R. Grant (father of Ulysses S. Grant), who was then a resident of Covington, Kentucky, and one of his warm personal friends. In 1863 Mr. Wiltsee drew the plans for one hundred days’ service in the Civil war, which were to the effect that in the fall of that year the farmers and farmer boys should enlist for one hundred days and relieve the veterans who were doing guard duty in the fortresses and prisons, so they might go to the front to hasten the close of hostilities. This plan was submitted to Jesse R. Grant, who mailed it to his son, the General. The answer from General Grant, stating that he would submit the plan to the war department, was framed and is still in possession of our subject. This item of interest has never been given publicity before but now that both the General and John F. Wiltsee has passed away, it is fitting that the matter should be publicly recorded. George A. Wiltsee likewise has in his possession the original copies of the plans for the one hundred days’ service. In the Kirby-Smith raid John F. Wiltsee was colonel of the Second Regiment and acted as commandant of the forces over the river for one day by order of Gen. Lew Wallace, who was away for that time. His wife died in 1906, passing away in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church. Unto them were born four children, as follows: John Albert, deceased, who was engaged in business with his father for many years and who enlisted for one hundred day’s service during the Civil war; Thomas, who died in infancy; George A., of this review; and Kate Ada, the deceased wife of Edward Graham of Chicago, Ill.
George A. Wiltsee obtained his early education in the public schools and continued his studies in Chickering’s Academy. After putting aside his text-books he learned the profession of undertaking under the direction of his father. This was the first firm to introduce the embalming method in Cincinnati more than thirty years ago. Another fact worthy of note is that the Wiltsees have always made their own embalming fluids, keeping thoroughly abreast with the latest improvements in formulas, materials used, etc. Their formaldehyde has always been imported from Germany. The business has been conducted at the present location since 1860 and is now under the capable management of George A. Wiltsee and his son, Percy L. the gentleman whose name introduces this review has earned for himself an enviable reputation as a careful man of business and in his dealings is known for prompt and honorable methods, which have won him the deserved and unbounded confidence of his fellowmen.
From Cincinnati, The Queen City, Volume III, by Rev. Charles Frederic Goss, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1912