Sacramento County
Biographies
GEORGE P. SELLINGER
Possessed of the qualities of perseverance
and industry inherent in the Teutonic race, Mr. Sellinger
has made an unqualified success of his well-directed life, good management and
unswerving honor having distinguished his smallest effort. A native of
California, his birth having occurred July 6, 1863, in Sacramento, where he
makes his home today, Mr. Sellinger, is the only
living child of Charles and Mary (Simmons) Sellinger,
who were united in marriage in December, 1859, in Cincinnati, Ohio. His father,
Charles Sellinger, was born in Baden Baden, Germany, December 20, 1831, and, according to the
custom in the homeland, left public school at the age of fourteen, becoming an
apprentice to a baker. Two years later, imbued with a desire to start
life in America, glowing reports of which filled his young mind, he set
sail. Arriving in New York City, with the dogged determination which
characterized his after life, he searched for a situation and found it in a
meat market, his services proving so valuable that he was induced to remain
with his employers during the succeeding five years. In 1853 he went to
Cincinnati, Ohio, where he became a hotel cook, but a year later he engaged in
the liquor business, meeting with fair success. In 1856 he disposed of
his interests and emigrated to San Francisco, where
for three years he served as a hotel cook, resigning this position to establish
a butcher shop in Sacramento. In 1864 he opened a hotel and successfully
conducted it until 1879; upon the sale of this hotel he engaged in the
manufacture of ice. Later, as the agent of the Union Ice Company, he
engaged in the wholesale and retail trade of ice until 1904, when he sold this
business to his son and retired from active labor.
Until the age of fifteen years George Sellinger attended public school, and upon relinquishing
his studies he became a clerk in a meat market, faithfully performing his
duties for four years. In 1882 he entered upon the life of a Texas
ranger, but after two years on the plains returned to his native city and
became associated with his father in the ice, coal and feed business, on Third
between J and K streets; but in 1891 they changed their location to the present
place a No. 521 I street, and he is now the owner and manager.
Mr. Sellinger
was married August 4, 1883, to Miss Annie Fay, of Sacramento, and to their
union four children were born: Ethel, who in 1910
graduated from Miss Head's School, Berkeley, Cal.; Charles, who is attending
Boone's College, Berkeley; Madeline, and George Jr., who are attending
Sacramento high school. Mr. Sellinger is one of the
best known citizens of Sacramento and is a man of keen business ability and
generous principles. Fraternally, he is identified with Sacramento Parlor
No. 3, N. S. G. W., Sacramento Lodge No. 6, B. P. O. E., and Sacramento Court
No. 12, F. of A. He is a staunch Republican, intelligently interested in
all political movements.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 802-803. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.