From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902. 

Typed by Laurie Birks Dean

pp. 506, 509

George HOOK, one of the best known business men of Wheeling, West 
Virginia, is president and business manager of the Germania Half 
Dollar Savings Bank, at No. 1501 Market street, and is also secretary 
of the West Virginia Exposition & State Fair Association.  He was 
born in Prussia, in 1841, and is a son of Henry Hook.
	Henry Hook was engaged in the shoe business, during his active 
life, and died about twenty years ago.  His widow died in 1899 having 
given birth to seven children, - most of whom are residents of 
Wheeling.
	George Hook was seven years of age when he accompanied his 
parents to this country in 1848.  As a boy he attended the German 
Lutheran and public schools.  Later he attended a business college in 
Wheeling, and was graduated in 1874.  His first active business was 
as a carriage trimmer with the firm of Pfarr & Kammer, and a short 
time afterward, in 1867 or 1868, he formed a partnership with Charles 
Schrader, and bought out the old firm.  They continued in the 
business about ten years under the firm name of Hook & Schrader.  
During the year 1865, Mr. Hook served in the sheriff's office under 
Thomas J. Campbell, and was then elected assessor of the city 
district, and served two years.  He was elected clerk of the County 
Court of Ohio county and served three terms, or a period of eighteen 
years, his incumbency terminating in 1896.  He is a member of the 
board of trade.  In 1881, he became secretary and treasurer of the 
West Virginia Exposition and State Fair Association, and has 
acceptably filled that office since, its duties requiring much of his 
time throughout the year, particularly in the fall months.
	Mr. Hook was united in marriage with Sophia A. Lutz, a daughter 
of Sebastian Lutz, and they have a daughter, Clara.  He is a Democrat 
in politics, and in religious attachments a member of the German 
Evangelical Lutheran church.  He resides in the seventh ward on the 
Island.