George Sengel, of Fort Smith. Ark., a prominent merchant and state senator from the Twenty-eighth senatorial district, was born at Brumath, France, November 11, 1852. He accompanied his parents to Fort Smith, in 1856, and attended the common schools of that period, receiving only such education as they afforded. When fifteen years old he entered the hardware business with J. C. Atkinson, starting at the very bottom, and has devoted all his energies and labors to this line of commercial industry, until July 1, 1903, when he retired from commercial life and transferred his business to his brother Edward, and his son George.

In 1876 he became the partner of W. N. Avers, and started the firm of Ayres & Company, withdrawing from this firm in 1879, when he organized the firm of Sengel & Schulte, hardware merchants, and in T888 bought the interest of Mr. Schulte and organized the Sengel Hardware Company, with himself at its head. They did a large and successful business throughout this entire section. He has been a factor in the upbuilding of Fort Smith as well as the entire state, and devoted much of his time and means for this purpose.

When the commercial league of Fort Smith was organized, he was chosen its first president, serving from 1896 to 1899. It was an organization which accomplished much for the city and was a recognized commercial body throughout the entire state. In 1898 the business men of the state assembled at Little Rock to organize the Arkansas board of trade. It was the largest and most notable assemblage which ever occurred in the state, being composed of Arkansas' most prominent business men. Mr. Sengel was elected the first president of this organization, and made it a live institution whose influence was felt in all sections of the commonwealth.

He was sent as a delegate from Arkansas to the commercial congress which convened in New Orleans, and has been a member of that organization ever since, being a member of the executive committee. He was the author of the resolution presented to the commercial congress in St. Louis, asking the elimination of the tariff question from the platforms of the political parties in the United States, and referring it to a commission.

He was sent by the commercial league of Fort Smith as a member of a state committee in 1898 to use his efforts to get an increased appropriation for the Arkansas river. Mr. Sengel was selected by this committee to make the principal address on rivers and harbors, and in doing so, presented an array of statistical matter that was a great surprise to the members, thus becoming the direct means of securing an additional appropriation of one hundred thousand dollars. He was a member of the ciU- council for two years and a member of the board of public affairs for two years. In 1900 he was elected state senator from the Twenty-eighth district for a four year term, and took a prominent stand in both sessions in behalf of the state. He was a member of Gov. W. M. Fishback's staff and accompanied him to the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893; and was also a member of the staff of Gov. Dan. W. Jones with the rank of colonel. He was appointed by Governor Jones, a delegate from the state 0$ Arkansas to the initial meeting in St. Louis, to take steps to celebrate the Louisiana Purchase. After it was determined to hold a World's Fair, he addressed that body in a beautiful and patriotic speech, naming the official colors of the exposition, which were adopted amid cheers. This speech is herein included.

"Mr. Chairman: This convention has now determined to hold a grand exposition celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase and we have also selected the place to hold the exposition. The next question should be the selection of the colors of this great undertaking. History tells us and our own experience has taught us that upon the birth of a nation or the launching of any great enterprise-, the first act after its advent is to adopt an emblem— a flag—or colors agreeable to the framers of the undertaking. Ii is therefore meet and proper that we should select the official colors of this exposition. I have in my mind and which I will present, colors upon which we can all unite, colors that art dear to every American heart, colors that will receive the unqualified endorsement of every American citizen, colors that we of the South once endeavored to trample under foot, but which today are as dear to every Southern heart as is the love of a mother for her offspring, as dear to the states of our own southland as they are to the states of the frozen North; and when the president of the United States asked for volunteers to defend our own country, and to battle for a down-trodden people, the boys of the South were first to respond, and shoulder to shoulder they stood with the boys of the North charging up the hill at San Juan to the tune of Yankee Doodle and under the folds of Old Glory. I take special pride in presenting the colors, as I wish the South to have the honor of naming them, and then to me personally it will be a pleasant distinction, for the colors that I will name will blend with the colors of that nation, whose great Napoleon made the Louisiana Purchase a possibility, the tri-colors of France with our own red, white and blue. I was born in Sunny France, but this great unconquerable land of America is the home of my adoption—I love her people, her traditions and her government, and her Hag that today commands the respect and admiration of the whole world, and woe to them who would assail it. The women of America wil1 watch with anxious looks the taste displayed by the gathering in selecting the colors; the colors that I will propose, will, I am sure, meet their approval, for we do not wish to antagonize the ladies. We will need them to make this great event a success, and we can't do without them —God bless them. Therefore, Mr. President, it is my privilege and pleasure to move you, sir, that the official colors of the Louisiana Purchase celebration be red, white and blue."'

He is a Knight Templar, past eminent commander of Jacques De Molay Commandery, and past master of Belie Point Lodge Masons No. 20. He is past exalted ruler of the Elks of Fort Smith, and a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen: and is a member of the First Presbyterian church.

In retiring from commercial life, Mr. Senoel turned his attention to another field of work, and originated Hie Suburban Railroad Company of Fort Smith, of which he was elected president. After disposing of this splendid piece of development to the Gould interests, who have since built the road, thus directly causing the substantial growth of Fort Smith. He organized the Sengel Development Company of which he is president. He also organized the Fort Smith & Northern Railroad, of which he is president, and which will be a great feeder for Fort Smith. He is also a heavy stockholder and director of the Fort Smith Fight & Transfer Company of Fort Smith, including the street car lines, and gas and electric light plants of Fort Smith. He built the first electric light plant in the city in 1885, and has been connected with this industry ever since.

Mr. Sengel was married at Fort Smith, December 3, 1878, to Marv C Kirchherr, whose father died when she was an infant. Her mother having married Mr. A. Haglin, and her name being taken from her middle name, she was best known by her friends as Xannie Haglin. They have seven children; the eldest daughter, Miss Ethel, is a graduate of the Fort Smith high school and Belmont college, Nashville, Tenn. She was elected queen of the Fort Smith carnival during the visit of Admiral Schley in the fall of 1902, by one of the most splendid votes recorded in Arkansas, and ruled as queen on this occasion with much grace. His other children are: George, Jerome, Early, Marguerite, Beaufort, and Randolph.