Biography

12/03/1870 - 02/19/1930

George Washington Sassaman (D11) Berks County 1917-1920

Early Life:

George Washington Sassaman, born December 3, 1870, Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania; son of Isaac M. Sassaman and Sarah Elizabeth Strunk Sassaman; cigar manufacturer; elected, delegate, Democratic State Convention; elected, city council, Reading (3 terms); elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1911-1914; unsuccessful campaign for reelection, 1914; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1917-1920; washer machine salesman; Sarah Sassaman, died, February 19, 1930, (aged 58), Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania; interment, Grandview Cemetery, Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, city council, Reading (3 terms).

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1911-1914; unsuccessful campaign for reelection, 1914.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1917-1920; committee assignment, Agriculture, Appropriations, Corporations, Elections, Game and Fisheries, Judicial Apportionment, Law and Order, Library, Public Grounds and Buildings, Public Health and Sanitation.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

https://archives.house.state.pa.us/people/member-biography?ID=3929&body=H

Legacy:

SALESMAN ESTABLISHED

The identity of George Sassaman, Berks County state senator in 1917-1920, who died in an Altoona, rooming house as Jacob George Strunk, has been established by J. Emory Shute, assistant to the president of the Penn Central Light and Power company which had employed Sassaman as a washing machine salesman. Identity was established when a photograph of the man was sent to Ralph Matthews, clerk of county commissioners at Berks County. The identification was made positive when Roswell Sassaman, Reading, a nephew of the dead man, informed Mr. Shute that the picture was undoubtedly that of his uncle. The latter stated that Sassaman had separated from his wife several years ago. He wrote that all effort to locate him were unavailing due, no doubt, to his assumption of an alias. Sassaman died several weeks ago and was buried in Grandview cemetery. The letter indicated that the remains would not be disturbed.

Cited:

The Pennsylvania Manual, (1920). Miller, H.P., (Compiler). Baker, W.H., (Assistant Compiler). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 1119, 1132, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 1096.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195229686/george-w-sassaman

https://pahousearchivesblog.wordpress.com/2020/10/27/a-most-unusual-case/