The Paper Bag King

Author's note: "The Paper Bag King" was released in September 2009; softcover binding, 6" X 9" - 135 pages - $15.95 - self-published, limited printing.

George West immigrated from England in 1849, settled in Saratoga County in 1861, and went on to become one of the most successful manila paper and paper bag manufacturers in the world. He was also elected to the New York State Assembly and United States House of Representatives for multiple terms.

George West was a man that everyone wanted as a friend. His status as one of Saratoga County’s wealthiest and most prominent citizens would cause most people to develop outsized egos and destructive vices, but West resisted those temptations. Throughout his life, from an early age struggling to support his family, to middle age when he roamed the halls of Congress as its wealthiest member, he was always described as easy-going and generous with a quick wit and self-deprecating sense of humor. He often displayed fierce loyalty to friends and people he trusted. At times he even took this loyalty to the extremes, as evidenced by the many poor investments he made at the suggestions of others, the large outlay of money he made on gifts, and even an intervention in the criminal trial of one of his friends at Tammany Hall.

West was born with a disposition which made him at once the consummate businessman as well as a popular and well-loved citizen. Even a Democrat-leaning newspaper (the Amsterdam Daily Sentinel) begrudgingly observed that “his besetting sin is Republicanism, but those who enjoy his personal acquaintance, whether Democrats or Republicans, call him companionable and jolly – good to his neighbors, good to his many employees, and good to his friends.” He was knowledgeable in all details of his business interests and seemed almost fixated on maintaining a rigid organization. It was said that a scrap of waste displeased him more than an idle machine, since the idle machine could not be helped, but waste and disorganization would not be tolerated.

While many others possessing wealth and influence are often known for ruthless business practices and a long list of enemies, West was able to avoid those attributes as well as the vices that afflict men in his position. His incredible wealth did not excite jealousy or bitterness in those around him. His birth into a family of modest means was well-known. Wealth that is earned through hard work is rarely envied; it only inspires others to strive for higher goals. And despite possessing more than his fair share of luck in business, West did not have a “charmed” life. Only two of his six children outlived him, which brought great sorrow to his family. He also suffered tremendous setbacks from the scourge of fire that would have driven others out of business. His first wholly-owned paper mill was destroyed in 1859. In the years that followed, his bag factory, freight house on the Delaware and Hudson Railroad, Union cotton mill, and one of the “Island” mills were all destroyed by fire.

Through all of these setbacks, as well as economic downturns, West managed to keep his mills in nearly continuous operation from 1862 to 1899, a period of almost four decades. Only one small workers’ strike is recorded during that time, since his employees returned the loyalty that he showed them. A willingness to share his wealth with others and the town of Milton as a whole brought him even greater respect and dedication.

Although we would like to believe that history is a static, objective collection of facts, it unfortunately changes with time and often reflects the biases of the recorder. West’s documented accomplishments are many. He was one of the few millionaires of the nineteenth century ($1 million in 1890 is the equivalent of $23 million today). He owned ten paper mills that produced millions of paper bags and tons of other paper products per day. He was elected multiple times to the New York State Assembly and the United States House of Representatives.

Even with a clarification of his accomplishments, West was one of the most successful men of his time, and was responsible for “putting Ballston Spa on the map” years after its celebrated springs had failed. Thanks to him, the name “Ballston” appears in hundreds of congressional reports, state assembly publications, paper manufacturing histories, American biographies, and archived newspaper articles. It is hoped that even though a few of the myths surrounding his life will be debunked, an even greater appreciation of George West will be realized to those who live within the borders of his former “empire” and others who want to get to know the “Paper Bag King.”