George Ege
Encyclopedia
George Ege was a United States Congressman, elected to the House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania
. He was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania
, near Philadelphia, to Anna Catherine (Holz) and George-Michael Ege, who had immigrated from Germany
in 1738. George's father participated in the French and Indian War
, subsequently had health problems, and died in 1759, when George was just 11 years old. After his father's death, George and his two brothers, Jacob Ege (b. 1745) and Michael Ege (b. 1753), were sent to live and study with their mother's wealthy brother-in-law, Henry William Stiegel, a noted glass-maker who had mansions in Manheim, PA and at Elizabeth Furnace, PA, as well as several other outside business interests, including an iron operation he called “Charming Forge” in the Womelsdorf area of Berks County
, PA. Under "Baron" Stiegel's tutelage, George and his brothers learned about how to run iron operations.
In 1774, George Ege succeeded the Baron as owner of Charming Forge and also built a mansion on the property, adjacent to the stream used by the iron mill; this mansion was also called "Charming Forge," and it is still occupied today. George prospered with the forge, added additional forges and properties, and became one of the wealthiest citizens of Berks County.
In 1783, he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
. He was appointed one of the first associate judges of Berks County under the Pennsylvania Constitution
in 1790, and served from 1791 until 1818, when he resigned. He resumed his extensive business interests, and was elected as a Federalist
to the Fourth
Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Daniel Hiester
. He was reelected to the Fifth
Congress and served from December 8, 1796, until October 1797, when he resigned. He resumed his business interests, and built and operated Schuylkill County
Forge, near Port Clinton
in 1804. He died at his residence, "Charming Forge," in Marion Township
; interment was in Zion's Church Cemetery, Womelsdorf.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania
Germantown, Pennsylvania
Germantown is the name of six places in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a state in the United States, including a neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:* Germantown, Adams County, Pennsylvania* Germantown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania...
, near Philadelphia, to Anna Catherine (Holz) and George-Michael Ege, who had immigrated from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1738. George's father participated in the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
, subsequently had health problems, and died in 1759, when George was just 11 years old. After his father's death, George and his two brothers, Jacob Ege (b. 1745) and Michael Ege (b. 1753), were sent to live and study with their mother's wealthy brother-in-law, Henry William Stiegel, a noted glass-maker who had mansions in Manheim, PA and at Elizabeth Furnace, PA, as well as several other outside business interests, including an iron operation he called “Charming Forge” in the Womelsdorf area of Berks County
Berks County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 373,638 people, 141,570 households, and 98,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 150,222 housing units at an average density of 175 per square mile...
, PA. Under "Baron" Stiegel's tutelage, George and his brothers learned about how to run iron operations.
In 1774, George Ege succeeded the Baron as owner of Charming Forge and also built a mansion on the property, adjacent to the stream used by the iron mill; this mansion was also called "Charming Forge," and it is still occupied today. George prospered with the forge, added additional forges and properties, and became one of the wealthiest citizens of Berks County.
In 1783, he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
. He was appointed one of the first associate judges of Berks County under the Pennsylvania Constitution
Pennsylvania Constitution
The current Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, most recently revised in 1968, forms the law for the United States Commonwealth of Pennsylvania...
in 1790, and served from 1791 until 1818, when he resigned. He resumed his extensive business interests, and was elected as a Federalist
Federalist Party (United States)
The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801...
to the Fourth
4th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Senate :* President: John Adams * President pro tempore:** Henry Tazewell , first elected December 7, 1795** Samuel Livermore , first elected May 6, 1796** William Bingham , first elected February 16, 1797...
Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Daniel Hiester
Daniel Hiester
Daniel Hiester was an American political and military leader from the Revolutionary War period to the early 19th Century. Born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, he was a member of the Hiester Family political dynasty. He was the brother of John Hiester and Gabriel Hiester, cousin of Joseph Hiester,...
. He was reelected to the Fifth
5th United States Congress
The Fifth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives...
Congress and served from December 8, 1796, until October 1797, when he resigned. He resumed his business interests, and built and operated Schuylkill County
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
-Notable people:*Boxing heavyweight great Muhammad Ali had his training camp in Deer Lake.*Charles Justin Bailey, commanding general of the 81st Division in World War I, was born in Tamaqua on June 21, 1859....
Forge, near Port Clinton
Port Clinton, Pennsylvania
Port Clinton is a borough in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 288 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Port Clinton is located at ....
in 1804. He died at his residence, "Charming Forge," in Marion Township
Marion Township, Pennsylvania
Marion Township is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania:*Marion Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania*Marion Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania*Marion Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania*Marion Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania...
; interment was in Zion's Church Cemetery, Womelsdorf.