BIO: George SLEEMAN, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 402-403.
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  GEORGE SLEEMAN, Saltillo, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in 
Gloucestershire, England, August 10, 1845, son of George and Mary 
(Tippens) Sleeman. George Sleeman, Sr., was a native of Wales, G.B. He 
was brought up to the business of mining, and resided through all the 
latter part of his life in Gloucestershire, where he followed that 
vocation. He was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church, and his 
wife of the Bible Christians.
  Their son, George Sleeman, was set at work in the mine when he was 
only eight years old. He had in consequence very little opportunity for 
education; so little that he never tried to write his name until after 
coming to this country. It is praiseworthy, that one whose privileges 
have been so limited, has so far made up for the deprivation by reading 
and independent study. His duty in the mine at that tender age was to 
open and close a trap door which distributed currents of air to 
different parts of the mine; for this work, he received twelve cents a 
day, and he continued at it until he was ten years of age, when he was 
employed at hodding. His wages were now increased; they contributed to 
the support of the family. His mother died when George was twelve years 
of age, and his father in 1881, aged sixty-four. After seven years 
spent in this work, Mr. Sleeman became a miner, and was paid by the 
yard; in this capacity he labored until he was twenty0three. In March, 
1868, he engaged passage at Liverpool on the "City of Brussels," a 
steam vessel, and after a voyage of nineteen days, landed in New York 
with seven pounds, English money, in his possession. After spending 
three days in New York, he went to Frostburg, Md., where he engaged in 
the Hoffman-Oller mines. At the end of one year, Mr. Sleeman found 
employment in the mines of Schuylkill county, Pa.; a year later, he 
returned to Maryland, but failing to find employment there, he went to 
Myersdale, Somerset county, Pa., and engaged in prospecting for fire 
clay at $3.00 per day. The next year, he engaged in a limestone quarry 
at Dunbar, Fayette county, Pa., at $2,00 per day; here Mr. Sleeman's 
ability being recognized, the company made him foreman of their mines 
at Irishtown, Fayette county, at $3,00 per day for five years. At the 
expiration of this time, he became superintendent of the mines of the 
Rockhill Iron and Coal Company, at Robertsdale, Pa. This engagement 
continued four years and a half, and at its close, Mr. Sleeman took a 
lease of a tract of coal land called the Rocky Ridge, near Cassville, 
Pa. He superintended the mining of this land in person for four years; 
then bought a farm in Tod township, which he cultivated for four years. 
He then rented the farm, and since that time has led a retired life; 
still, however, retaining a general supervision of the mines at Rocky 
Ridge. Mr. Sleeman's life work and its results furnish an instance of 
what can be accomplished by the "grit" and perseverance for which the 
English as a nation are so distinguished. He is a member of Cromwell 
Lodge, No. 572, F. and A. M., and of the I.O. of R.M., both of 
Orbisonia. His political adherence is to the Republican party, as to 
its general principles, but he is an advocate of free silver.
  George Sleeman was married in England to Mary Ann Reed, from whom he 
separated. They had one son, William, who married and emigrated to the 
United States. He resided in Robertsdale, Pa., where a son, George, was 
born; the family returned to England a few years ago, and now reside 
there. In 1876, Mr. Sleeman married Miss Emma Jane Greenland. Their 
only child, Ann, died in infancy.