George Keats Gwathmey was born in Louisville, Ky., in 1850, and after the death of his father and mother, in 1852 and 1856, respectively, made his home with his guardian, John Jeffrey, with whom he removed to Cincinnati in 1857. He attended school in that city, in Gambier, Ohio, and in Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, until 1864, and in November of that year left home and went to sea. For six years he pursued this vocation, following which he was engaged in railroading in the United States and Canada for about eight years. In 1879, removing to De Kalb County, Mo., he engaged in farming, and was thus occupied until 1883; subsequently he purchased the Republican Pilot, assuming control December 12, 1884. This representative journal he has since continued to publish, and the excellent reputation which it has enjoyed is due largely to his ability and earnestness in its editorial management. The paper is numbered among the well-known and substantial publications of this portion of the State.
Source: History of Andrew and DeKalb Counties, Missouri (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888), pp. 562-563.