MISSISSIPPI  —  A HISTORY                           977

GEORGE WASHINGTON MARS

                George Washington Mars was formerly sole owner of the Philadelphia mercantile establishment which is conducted under the name of Mars Brothers and he has also given considerable attention to real estate and since the organization of the Citizens Bank of Philadelphia he has been its president. He was born October 19, 1865, at Mars Hill, in Neshoba County, a few miles east of Philadelphia, and is one of the 12 children of James Henry and Martha Jane (DeWeese) Mars. His grandfather, James Mars, was born in this state, April 8, 1800, and devoted his life to farming. He married Ankie Jones, who was born in 1808, and they were the parents of James Henry Mars, who was born near DeKalb, Mississippi, in December, 1829, and passed away November 27, 1904, his remains being interred at Mars Hill Church. His wife, who was born September 11, 1834, died August 14, 1921. Their children were as follows: James F., Mazora, Kate, Matilda, Narcissus, George W., Dr. W. H., Dora, Viola, Robert, and Ina Sue.

        Having attended school at Shady Grove, Mississippi, until he had mastered the elementary branches of learning, George W. Mars next became a student at Cooper Institute in Lauderdale County, where he continued until 1887. He then took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for about five years, and in December, 1891, he settled at Shady Grove, Neshoba County, and in October, 1892, became actively identified with commercial interests as one of the organizers of the Mars Brothers Mercantile Company, in which his partner was his brother, Dr. W. H. Mars. He there remained until October, 1905, when he erected a business block in Philadelphia and removed his stock of goods to this city. On the first of January, 1920,

978                          MISSISSIPPI  —  A HISTORY

he purchased his brother’s interest, making him full owner, although he continued the business under the old firm style of Mars Brothers. On the first of January, 1937, he transferred his business to his three sons, J. H., N. C., and L. F. In the meantime he had given considerable attention to the purchase and sale of real estate, and he still maintain his interest in that business since turning over his mercantile pursuits to his sons. On the eighth of February, 1908, he became one of the organizers of the Citizens Bank of Philadelphia, and from the beginning has been its chief officer, while his brother, Dr. W. H. Mars, has been one of the directors since the organization.

         On the twenty-fourth of December, 1891, Mr. Mars was married to Miss Laura Hoye, who was born in Mississippi, July 11, 1872, a daughter of James C. and Lucy Adams (James) Hoye, the former one of the extensive farmers of the state. The mother was first married to Richard James and they had six children. By her marriage to Mr. Hoye she had two children, Mrs. Laura (Hoye) Mars and Charles Hoye. To Mr. and Mrs. Mars have been born six children, the eldest being Lucille, whose natal year was 1893 and who is the wife of Weaver Bridges of Georgia, and the mother of a daughter, Jane, aged 17 years. George Washington Mars, Jr., born June 11, 1895, died January 21, 1898. Rodney W., born September 11, 1897, wedded Lucille Glass of Yazoo City, Mississippi, and he passed away July 1, 1931, in his 34th year. James H., born July 3, 1900, is manager of the mercantile store of Mars Brothers. He married Gladys Maxwell of Mississippi, and they have three children, Martha Louise, Gretchen, and George Rodney. Norman C., born April 2, 1903, who is manager of the wholesale department of Mars Brothers, married Margaret Colson of Moss Point, Mississippi, and has one child, Junior. Louis F., born May 4, 1905, married Ruth Saunders, and they were the parents of a daughter, Mary Frances; the second wife of L. F. Mars was in her maidenhood Mary Lee Walton. Mrs. Laura (Hoye) Mars has always devoted her attention to her home interests and the welfare of her family, with the cultivation of flowers as her diversion. Mr. Mars enjoys hunting and fishing, but these have been made side issues in his life. He belongs to the Masonic lodge, and formerly was active in all its bodies, including the Shrine. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World, has ever been a stalwart champion of the cause of education and is serving on the school board. He was formerly active in highway construction in Neshoba County and today this community enjoys many good roads and concrete bridges, the careful management and economy of Mr. Mars and his associates made possible to build. A lifelong and devoted member of the Methodist church, he has been a steward for fifty9-two years and for the past twenty-eight years has served as a delegate to the Mississippi conference of the church. He is a civic-minded man who life has always been actuated by high principles and ideals and he is justly accounted one of the most influential and honored residents of Philadelphia, enjoying the respect and good will of all who know him.