George A. Jarvis

George A. Jarvis (March 9, 1806 – May 8, 1893) was an American businessman and philanthropist. Jarvis was successful in retail and wholesale grocery, banking, and insurance industries in New York. He was founder and vice president of South Brooklyn Savings Institution and president of the Lenox Fire Insurance Company. He sat on the board or was a trustee for many organizations.

As the result of his success, Jarvis was able to be a contributor and founder of a number of educational, historical, religious, and other efforts. His donations helped establish the Episcopalian Jarvis Hall, a college for males in Golden, Colorado; Wolfe Hall in Denver for girls; Bronson Hall at Cheshire Academy; and Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. He wrote a book about the genealogical lineage of the Jarvis family. Jarvis was married three times and had one child, Mary Caroline who married Dr. Frederick J. Bancroft in Denver.

George Atwater Jarvis, born on March 9, 1806 in Cheshire, Connecticut. He was the son of Stephen and Mary Ann Atwater Jarvis, who was the daughter of Benjamin Atwater of Cheshire. His father was treasurer and warden at the St. Peter's church. Both of his parents were devout Episcopalians. His grandfather was Hezekiah Jarvis.

Jarvis had a brother, Benjamin and other siblings. George attended an Episcopalian Cheshire Academy, which was run by Rev. Dr. Tillotson Bronson. At some point during his childhood, Benjamin began to be raised by his uncle, Titus Atwater. Benjamin was a legislator, farmer, and official at St. Peters Church.

His family had been Episcopalians for several generations. Some were wardens, lay-readers, and bishops. His immediate family lived in the former home of a relative, Bishop Abraham Jarvis. The house was built for the bishop about 1797 when he became a trustee of the newly opened Episcopalian academy in Cheshire.

At 18 years of age, Jarvis went to New York. His uncle, Noah Jarvis, let him live in his home and made an arrangement with a wool store for George to work as an apprentice with no pay for a year while he learned the business. The second year, he was paid for his work. Within the third year, the economy crashed. Jarvis lost his position at the store and, because of the poor economy, he was unable to find another position. Noah hired his nephew to assist him in the collection of assessments and he performed well. Noah provided a loan so that George could establish a grocery business near Broadway on Grand Street. George repaid the loan, with interest, within several years. George was a wine and tea dealer. He issued copper hard times tokens with his address 142 Grand near Elm, a bust image of Liberty, and the year 1837. He cofounded a wholesale grocery business, Stanton and Jarvis, in September 1838.

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