George Marcellus Landers

US Congressman. Born in Lenox, Massachusetts, he received a common school education, and was apprenticed at 16 years of age in New Britain, Connecticut as aa carpenter. He soon entered the craft of journeyman, and he anticipated that New Britain was to be a manufacturing center. He first engaged the hardware manufacture business with a partner, then by himself in a shop he built on East Main Street. The success demanded a larger business which became incorporated under the name of Landers and Smith, which later changed to Landers, Frary and Clark. George M. Landers acted as president and vice-president of this corporation almost until the time of his death. He was involved in politics most of his adult life, serving three terms in the Connecticut State Assembly, and three terms in the Connecticut State Senate. In 1874 he was elected as a Democrat to represent Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, and served two terms from 1875 to 1879. He was unsuccessful in his attempt to be re-elected for a third time, being defeated by former Civil War Union Army general Joseph H. Hawley. He returned to his business in New Britain, and passed away there in 1895.