George Washington Gonzales

George Washington Gonzales was the 25th Mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey. He was elected to City Council in 1908, holding the office to 1909. He was elected Mayor of Hoboken in 1910, holding office until 1911.

George Washington Gonzales
25th Mayor of Hoboken
OpponentLawrence Fagan
Preceded byGeorge H. Steil, Sr.
Succeeded byMartin Cooke
Personal details
DiedJanuary 25, 1946
Schooley's Mountain, NJ
Children7

He was the proprietor of the American Hotel and Oyster Bar at 76-82 River Street in Hoboken, NJ (Home to "Texas Arizona" as of 2019).[1][2] Records indicate that hotel was celebrating its 50th anniversary around May 13, 1933, and photographs show it in operation until at least 1946.[3] Much of the information known about Gonzales originates from a 1933 newspaper clipping, however it is not currently known which publication it originated from.[3]

Life and career

Records indicate that Gonzales was born in Brooklyn, New York and moved to Hoboken in 1874.[3][4] He went to work for Mr. Joseph O'Brien, owner of "O'Brien's Chop House", which would later become the American Hotel and Oyster Bar when Gonzales purchased control of the hotel in 1887, following O'Brien's death.[3][4]

Gonzales was listed as the President of the Board of Trustees (ex-officio) for the Hoboken Public Library in its 20th Annual Report.[5] City records indicate that, in 1911, he held the role of President of the Board of Police Commissioners, Trustee for the Hoboken Cemetery (ex-officio), and Member, Board of Education (ex-officio).[6]

Family

Gonzales was known to have eleven children, including seven girls and 4 boys.[7] In 1933, Florence Gonzales was known to be teacher at Hoboken School No. 2. Claire Gonzales was a teacher at Hoboken School No. 5, and Georgine Gonzales was a teacher at Hoboken School No. 9 (Now known as the Thomas G Connors Primary School).[8] Joseph Gonzales assisted in running the family business.[3] His son, Frank Gonzales, was indicted for auto theft in 1914 at the age of 22.[9]

Walter Gonzales was a physician in Hoboken, operating out of his family home on 638 Hudson Street, as well as a member of the Hoboken Hospital Staff.[3][7] Hoboken City records indicate that he was a "Physician (Baby Welfare)" in the city's Department of Health as of 1934.[10] He died of Pneumonia at the age of 39 in 1938, leaving behind his wife, Mrs. Edna Cox Gonzales and his children Janet and George.[7]

References
  1. "Hoboken Historical Museum "Person Record" - Gonzales, George". Hoboken Historical Museum. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  2. ""B+W photo negative of Washington Street Line bus no. 42 on Hudson Place & River St., Hoboken, n.d. (1946)"". Hoboken Historical Museum. 2019-05-27. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  3. "Hoboken Historical Museum Archive". 1933.
  4. "George W. Gonzales". The New York Times. January 26, 1943. p. 19.
  5. Twentieth Annual Report of the Librarian to Trustees, Free Public Library, Hoboken. Hoboken, NJ: Hoboken Free Public Library. 1910. p. 1.
  6. A Directory of Public Officials, Educational, Civic & Charitable Organizations, Churches & Religious Congregations of the City of Hoboken. Hoboken, NJ: The Ivins Printing and Publishing Co. 1911. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  7. "Dr. Walter G. Gonzales - Communicable Diseases Expert on Staff of Hoboken Hospital". The New York Times. January 18, 1938. p. 23.
  8. Report of the Board of Education, Hoboken, 1917. 1917. p. 5.
  9. "Ex-Mayor's Son Accused: Franks Gonzales of Hoboken Indicted as an Auto Bandit". The New York Times. October 23, 1914. p. 8. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  10. Directory of Public Officials. NATIONAL STATE COUNTY MUNICIPAL. Feb. 1934. Hoboken Chamber of Commerce. 1 Newark St., Hoboken, N.J. Hoboken, NJ: Hoboken Chamber of Commerce. 1934. p. 22.
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