Individual Details

George P. Prouty, formerly of the firm of Isaac Prouty & Co., incorporated, boot and shoe manufacturers of Spencer, was born in the neighboring town of Rutland on September 12, 1831, son of Isaac and Mary A. (Goodell) Prouty. His father, born December 9, 1798, who was a well-known boot manufacturer of his time, founded what is now one of the largest boot and shoe factories in the world. In 1820 Isaac Prouty started in the business at North Spencer in a small way. After some years he came to Spencer. For a long time only boots were made by him. The shoe department is a comparatively recent addition to his establishment. Since he brought the business into Spencer, it has been conducted under the name of Isaac Prouty & Co., which was incorporated in 1894. In politics he was successively a Whig and a Republican. A fine example of the self-made man, the people of Spencer were honored by his citizenship among them. He was a regular attendant of the Congregational church, and gave liberally toward its support. His death occurred on January 26, 1872.
George P. Prouty resided in Spencer after he was two years of age. He went to school here, and also for two terms attended the Leicester Academy. At the age of ten years he began working in the factory. Having practically served an apprenticeship in all the different departments, he understood thoroughly every detail of the business, and could detect at a glance any imperfect workmanship. Upon reaching his majority he was taken into partnership with his father and his brother, Lewis W. Prouty, who is also deceased. He retained his interest in the business throughout the remainder of his life.
Mr. Prouty was married to Mary L. Bemis, of Spencer, and became the father of two children, John G. and Mabel L. Orthodox in religious belief, he attended the Congregational church in Spencer. Not only did he derive distinction form being the son of his father, but from his personal worth and ability, which were recognized both by his employees and the townspeople at large. His death on May 1, 1898, was mourned as the loss of a representative man of the town and a leading factor in its industrial prosperity.

Birth	12 Sep 1831	Rutland, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Marriage	22 Nov 1859	Spencer, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States - Mary Lucretia Bemis
Census (family)	17 Jul 1860	Spencer, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States - Mary Lucretia Bemis
Census (family)	1880	Spencer, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States - Mary Lucretia Bemis
Death	1 May 1898	Spencer, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

Spouse	Mary Lucretia Bemis (1835 - )
Child	John Goodell Prouty (1865 - 1923)
Child	Mabel Lucretia Prouty (1872 - )

Father	Isaac Prouty (1798 - 1872)
Mother	Mary Jane Goodell (1803 - 1837)
Sibling	John Goodell Prouty (1827 - 1855)
Sibling	Lewis Wilder Prouty (1829 - 1872)
Sibling	Ellen Smith Prouty (1833 - 1860)

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