Haldeman, George Bowman (1861-1909)

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Mentioned in (6)
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Jane Addams to Anna Haldeman Addams, December 22, 1903

Obituary for George B. Haldeman, ca. November 1909

George B. Haldeman, November 19, 1909

Autobiographical Notes upon Twenty Years at Hull-House: A War Time Childhood, April 1910

Anna Marcet Haldeman-Julius to Jane Addams, August 23, 1916

Jane Addams to Mary Fry, May 27, 1919

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Birth Date

1861-06-09

Death Date

1909-11-14

Birthplace

Mount Carroll, IL

Biographical Text

George Bowman Haldeman, the last child of Anna and William Haldeman, born June 9, 1861. George was only five when his father died and his elder brother left home to study medicine and music in Germany. Two years later, his mother married John Huy Addams. Although a competent poet and artist, George followed his brother Harry's footsteps into the medical field. After high school he studied at Beloit Academy and College specializing in the study of science and languages. After graduating from Beloit, George returned home to Cedarville to live with his mother, afraid that she would be alone without him. Not long after his return, however, George was enrolled in the newly formed Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, specializing in marine biology. George's time at Johns Hopkins was solitary, and he had difficulty making friends. After graduating in 1887, George planned on studying in Europe, but postponed his plans to stay with his brother and his wife for the birth of their first child, Anna Marcet Haldeman. After this upset, he seemed to have given up his plans of studying marine biology, though the exact reasons are unclear. He tried once again to study abroad in Leipzig, Germany as his brother had, but became so ill that he quickly returned home to Cedarville. In this time, George disappeared from home for one month. One year later, he left for Colorado, this time telling his family of his trip. He traversed the west in search of a purpose, though not willing to find a career. After two months in Colorado, George realized that neither Jane nor his mother would join him in his escape, and he ventured back east in May of 1889. From 1889-1893 George stayed with Harry and Sarah Alice as Harry tried to no avail to discover what kind of illness ailed his brother. Though he tried many treatments, George returned to Cedarville in 1893 only slightly better than he had left it. He spent much time closeted in his room and had no acquaintances outside the Addams-Haldeman family. He lost his brother Harry in 1905. George died of a stroke on November 14, 1909.

As the closest sibling in age to Jane Addams, George got along well with her most of all. The two went to school together, as well as becoming companions and intellectual peers. Over the years, George began to attach himself to Jane. He later failed in securing a marriage between himself and Jane. She had lost faith in him during his two attempts at escape from Cedarville.

Occupation

Biologist

Collection

People

Map

Edited By

Hajo, Cathy Moran

Sciancalepore, Victoria

Rights

Public domain

Gender

Male

First appears

1903

Bibliography and Links

Mary Lynn Bryan, Selected Papers of Jane Addams, Volume 1, pp. 494-507.

Citation

“Haldeman, George Bowman (1861-1909),” Jane Addams Digital Edition, accessed October 18, 2024, https://mail.digital.janeaddams.ramapo.edu/items/show/435.