George Cruikshank (editor)
Encyclopedia
George Marcus Cruikshank (15 March 1857 – 15 September 1936) was an American educator, newspaper editor and historian.
Cruikshank, born in Versailles, Kentucky
, was the son of Marcus Cruikshank, a Confederate
congressman
and later mayor of Talladega, Alabama
. He was raised in Talladega and completed his studies there and remained to teach in the Talladega County
schools and the Alabama School for the Blind
.
In 1883, Cruikshank moved to Birmingham
as editor of the Birmingham Chronicle. He married in 1887 and, three years later, moved to Washington D. C. as superintendent of the folding room of the House of Representatives
, where all congressional mail was delivered. He resigned in 1893 to accept his appointment as Postmaster of Birmingham.
When his four year term concluded, he returned to newspapers as editor of the Birmingham Ledger, which he cultivated into one of the larger newspapers in the South. The Ledger was acquired by The Birmingham News
in 1920.
Cruikshanks' A History of Birmingham and its Environs was published in two volumes in 1920. He was a Master Mason, a member of the Alabama Press Association and the Birmingham Press Club, as well as the Commercial Club of Birmingham. He was president of the Birmingham chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
. He and his wife had two children, Mary and Marcus.
Cruikshank died in 1936 and is buried at Grand Bay
Cemetery in Mobile County
.
Cruikshank, born in Versailles, Kentucky
Versailles, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,511 people, 3,160 households, and 2,110 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,330 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 88.18% White, 8.67% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.35%...
, was the son of Marcus Cruikshank, a Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
congressman
Congress of the Confederate States
The Congress of the Confederate States was the legislative body of the Confederate States of America, existing during the American Civil War between 1861 and 1865...
and later mayor of Talladega, Alabama
Talladega, Alabama
Talladega is a city in Talladega County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 15,143. The city is the county seat of Talladega County. Talladega is approximately 50 miles east of Birmingham, Alabama....
. He was raised in Talladega and completed his studies there and remained to teach in the Talladega County
Talladega County, Alabama
Talladega County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Talladega is a Muscogee Native American word derived from TVLVTEKE, which means "border town." As of 2010, the population was 82,291...
schools and the Alabama School for the Blind
Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind
The Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind is a school for people with blindness and/or deafness operated by the U. S. State of Alabama in the city of Talladega...
.
In 1883, Cruikshank moved to Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
as editor of the Birmingham Chronicle. He married in 1887 and, three years later, moved to Washington D. C. as superintendent of the folding room of the House of Representatives
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...
, where all congressional mail was delivered. He resigned in 1893 to accept his appointment as Postmaster of Birmingham.
When his four year term concluded, he returned to newspapers as editor of the Birmingham Ledger, which he cultivated into one of the larger newspapers in the South. The Ledger was acquired by The Birmingham News
The Birmingham News
The Birmingham News is the principal daily newspaper for Birmingham, Alabama, United States, and the largest newspaper in Alabama. The paper is owned by Advance Publications...
in 1920.
Cruikshanks' A History of Birmingham and its Environs was published in two volumes in 1920. He was a Master Mason, a member of the Alabama Press Association and the Birmingham Press Club, as well as the Commercial Club of Birmingham. He was president of the Birmingham chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a non-profit animal welfare organization originally founded in England in 1824 to pass laws protecting carriage horses from abuse. SPCA groups are now found in many nations, where they campaign for animal welfare, assist in cruelty to animals...
. He and his wife had two children, Mary and Marcus.
Cruikshank died in 1936 and is buried at Grand Bay
Grand Bay, Alabama
Grand Bay is a census-designated place in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. It is included in the Mobile metropolitan statistical area. The population was 3,918 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
Cemetery in Mobile County
Mobile County, Alabama
Mobile County[p] is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of a tribe of Indians, the Maubila tribe . As of 2011, its population was 415,704. Its county seat is Mobile, Alabama...
.