George C. Langdon

George Curtis Langdon was born in Geneva, New York April 5, 1833, the son of A. M. Langdon.^[1][2] He went to school in Batavia, New York and Farmington, Connecticut, and at the age of 18 became a clerk for the wholesale firm of Lord, Warren, Slater & Co.^[1] The next year he returned to Geneva, and his father sent him to Flint, Michigan to become a farmer. After three years on the farm, Langdon moved to Detroit and entered Gregory Commercial College to study bookkeeping.^[1] He graduated with a Master in Science of Bookkeeping and Accounts degree,^[2] and began work as a bookkeeper, first for a copper smelting firm and then at a bank.^[1] From there, he went into the commission business.

In 1864, Langdon and a partner purchased a brewery and began doing business under the name "Langdon and Co."^[1] In 1870 he became sole proprietor, and a few years later sold the brewery to become a maltster;^[1] his business enterprisese afforded him a comfortable fortune.^[3]

Langdon, elected as a Democrat served one term as the mayor of Detroit, from 1878 to 1879.^[1] 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.^[3]

Langdon married Fannie Vallie in 1859;^[2] the couple had two daughters.^[1] Langdon's wife died in 1887. Their daughter, Fanny, died November 14, 1883.^[2] Langdon died on June 5, 1909, in Geneva, New York.^[4]