Eearly years

George C. Langdon was born in Geneva, New York

Geneva, New York

Geneva is a city in Ontario and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 13,617 at the 2000 census. Some claim it is named after the city and canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Others believe the name came from confusion over the letters in the word "Seneca" written in cursive...

 in 1833, the son of A. M. Langdon. He went to school in Batavia, New York and Farmington, Connecticut

Farmington, Connecticut

Farmington is a town located in Hartford County in the Farmington Valley area of central Connecticut in the United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census. It is home to the world headquarters of several large corporations including Carrier Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, and Carvel...

, and at the age of 18 became a clerk for the wholesale firm of Lord, Warren, Slater & Co. The next year he returned to Geneva, and his father sent him to Flint, Michigan

Flint, Michigan

Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...

 to become a farmer. After three years on the farm, Langdon moved to Detroit and entered Gregory Commercial College to study bookkeeping

Bookkeeping

Bookkeeping is the recording of financial transactions. Transactions include sales, purchases, income, receipts and payments by an individual or organization. Bookkeeping is usually performed by a bookkeeper. Bookkeeping should not be confused with accounting. The accounting process is usually...

. He graduated with a Master in Science of Bookkeeping and Accounts degree, and began work as a bookkeeper, first for a copper smelting firm and then at a bank. From there, he went into the commission business.

Later years

In 1864, Langdon and a partner purchased a brewery and began doing business under the name "Langdon and Co." In 1870 he became sole proprieter, and a few years later sold the brewery to become a maltster; his business enterprisese afforded him a comfortable fortune.

Langdon, elected as a Democrat

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

 served one term as the mayor of Detroit, from 1878 - 1879. After serving as mayor, Langdon suffered a number of setbacks which decimated his personal wealth and forced him to hire on as a clerk at the City Hall.

Langdon married Fannie Vallie in 1859; the couple had two daughters. Langdon's wife died in 1889, followed closely by one of his daughters. Langdon died in June, 1909, in Geneva, New York.