Hon. George Lutz, who is conducting an extensive business as a lumber dealer in Jamestown, is one of the leading business men of Stutsman County. He has steadily pushed forward and his present property interests are the direct result of careful management and persistent efforts.
Mr. Lutz was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, December 19, 1852. His father owned and operated a flour and sawmill. Our subject attended the public schools of his native place and at fourteen years of age engaged in the mercantile business, which be followed four years, and then was employed in the bank five years and spent one year in the German army. For the following four years he was correspondent in Antwerp for a German, French and English importing firm, a position which required a knowledge of the languages of those countries. He came to America in the fall of 1879 and landed at New York, after which he went to Chicago, where he accepted a position in the Chicago office of an exporting firm, with whom he was employed until 1882. In August of that year he went to Jamestown. North Dakota, and was employed by Hartman, Durstine & Company, lumber dealers. There were but few dwellings in the town at that time, and in 1884 he became manager of the James River Lumber Company, and was connected with them until 1893 when he established a lumber yard for himself. He purchased the wood yard of Topliff & Company in 1895, which business he operates in connection with the lumber yard, and enjoys an extensive patronage.
Our subject was married in 1887 to Miss Matilda Bower, who was born and raised at Burlington, Iowa. Mrs. Lutz is a lady of rare attainments, and was a teacher in the public schools of Burlington for five years, and also taught one year in North Dakota. Her father, Philip Bower, was of German descent, and her mother's people also came from Germany before the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Lutz have been the parents of two children: Alma, born in 189o, and Paul, born in 1893.
Mr. Lutz was elected as a representative from Stutsman county to the first state legislature of North Dakota, in 189o, and his efficient work and popularity are best evidenced by the fact that he was elected in the same capacity in 1892. He takes an active part in local affairs and for the past ten years has been a member of the board of education, and was president of the board for two years, also a stockholder and director of the James River National Bank, of Jamestown.
Source: Compendium and History of North Dakota 1900 Page 190